Unseen

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:6-9

⁵ While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"

 ³⁶ Overhearing^[a] what they said, Jesus told him, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

 ³⁷ He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. ³⁹ He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." ⁴⁰ But they laughed at him.

   After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). ⁴² Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. ⁴³ He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Mark 5:35-43

As humans, we are limited. Our limited condition confines us to this second in time. We can only be certain of things that are taking place in this very moment. We have no idea whether we will open our eyes again tomorrow morning. We are blind to the things of our future. We are blind to anything beyond the present. Because of this limitation, no matter how hard we may choose to walk straight, chances are we will get hurt somewhere along the way.

Scripture tells us, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

If we could only heed the advice of Christ, life might not be as difficult as we make it. God knows that we have no clue what will come into our lives tomorrow but He does. So why then do we find it so hard to trust when He asks? Why is our faith so small?

Jesus pleaded with Jairus to trust. Jairus went to Jesus because his daughter was dying and begged Him to come heal her. Jesus went but before reaching the home of Jairus, they were told that the girl was dead.
"Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, "Don't be afraid; just believe."Mark 5:36 Jesus pleaded, "Trust me". Do not be afraid but instead, just trust me!

Trust means walking in the dark. It means walking a path that we are unfamiliar with and allowing someone else to lead us in the direction that we should go. The thing is, it is not just someone, it is God. The Creator of our life is the One asking to guide us through the unknown. Yes being blind to what lies ahead is scary. I am at that place at this very moment but I would much rather be blind and lead by my Creator then left to navigate on my own. Suddenly when trusting, the future is not so scary.

^" Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Hebrews 11:1

Sometimes in order to trust, we have to overcome the obstacles around us. We have to silence the noise. Jesus recognized this
"When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.  He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep."  But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was."
(39-40)  Jesus took control of the situation and paid no attention to what the people said. In fact, he "put out" the ones who did not trust. This is huge! It is a crucial point in this story for seeing the unseen,
"Ignore what people say. Block them out. Turn them off. Close your ears. And, if you have to, walk away." Max Lucado

Walking by faith means that sometimes, we have to plug our ears or cover our eyes in order to see the unseen. "Jesus compels Jairus to see the unseen. When Jesus says, "Just believe…" He is imploring, "Don't limit your possibilities to the visible. Don't listen only for the audible. Don't be controlled by the logical. Believe there is more to life than meets the eye!" Max Lucado

Living by faith does not come naturally to anyone. God knows this about His children. Possibly one of the reasons that Jesus raised this little girl from the dead was specifically for us. It definitely was not for her benefit as she would have been much better off in heaven. Instead, maybe God knew we needed to see that He knows and sees when we trust.