For some, the fear is almost palpable. They allow panic to drive their actions. An underlying concern colors all social interactions. The terms clean and unclean have taken on new meaning and new intensity. We’re afraid the germs of another—their uncleanness—may contaminate us, maybe even kill us. Even harmless sniffles can cause our hearts and minds to race toward a frightening future. How can we turn our fear into faith? Two people found their answer in Jesus: A desperate father whose worst nightmare was coming true and a bleeding woman who had endured a 12-year nightmare of self-quarantine. (Mark 5:21-43) Both needed faith as they struggled to manage their fear. In them, we find a contrast between faith that had to act despite fear and faith that had to wait despite fear.

For Jairus, Twelve Years Wasn’t Long Enough

As soon as Jesus stepped off the boat, Jairus met him. Jairus’ honorable position as a synagogue leader hadn’t protected him from the fear and pain of watching his precious daughter suffer. She was only 12 years old, much too young to die, but Jairus knew her death was imminent. When Jesus agreed to accompany him, hope overrode the fear in Jairus’ heart. But then a woman interrupted their mission, and his fear returned like a flock of vultures.

For the Bleeding Woman, Twelve Years Was Too Long

Jewish purity codes required a woman experiencing her monthly uncleanness to refrain from her regular duties. She transmitted her uncleanness to everyone and everything she touched. Although she might appreciate a one-week vacation every month, no one wanted permanent estrangement. But the desperate woman had endured her condition, not just one week but 624 weeks! Overwhelming shame and isolation defined the bleeding woman’s life. She was bankrupt in every area—physical, financial, spiritual, social, emotional, and psychological. Her dishonor was as wide-reaching as Jairus’ honor.

The Bleeding Woman Risked Hope

Despite her pounding heart, the woman pushed past her fear of rejection and disappointment. Creeping through the crowd, she stretched her hand to reach the tassels on Jesus’ prayer shawl. Despite her fear, the bleeding woman acted on her faith in Jesus’ power to heal. When she touched the tassels, her greatest hope and greatest fear embraced. She had risked contaminating Jesus and everyone else with her uncleanness. However, his power to cleanse was more potent than hers to contaminate. She experienced healing, but Jesus shattered her hope of invisibility. His question (Mark 5:30) made her heart sink as shame replaced the joy of healing. Since Jesus insisted, she identified herself, fearing the crowd’s anger and his. Why did he force her to confess? Jesus wanted to give the bleeding woman more than physical healing. He yearned to remove her shame and restore her honor in the community.

His response shocked her:

            Daughter, your faith has healed [saved] you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.

Mark 5:34

The Greek word for saved refers to both physical and spiritual healing. She was the only person Jesus called Daughter, and he welcomed her into his shalom.

A Deadly Delay

As Jairus waited, messengers came with the dreaded news—his daughter was dead. Grief flooded his heart. But two daughters had needed Jesus’ touch, and both were precious. Jesus called on Jairus to exercise faith.

Don’t be afraid; just believe.

Mark 5:36

Faith is a choice to believe, despite doubts and questions. Jairus listened to his faith rather than his fear. And again, Jesus showed his power when he raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead.

Does Faith Heal?

According to rabbinic tradition, the water of the Red Sea didn’t divide for the Israelites until they were in up to their nostrils (Exodus 14:22). Faith does not wait to see if the waters will split before stepping out. It steps out, trusting God to do what’s needed. Belief isn’t enough; faith requires risk. Unless it leads to action, faith is only an idea.

Faith doesn’t heal; God heals. Likewise, prayer doesn’t work; God works. Faith and prayer open the door to God’s power, enabling him to do what he wants.

How to Turn Fear into Faith

We know the dog we feed the most will win the dogfight. So we must feed our faith, not our fear. Feed it with: 

• Meditation on God’s Word, especially passages that focus on his character (Exodus 34:6-7a; Isaiah 40:28-31)
• Memorization of God’s promises (Isaiah 43:1-7; John 16:33)
• Memories of God’s past faithfulness (Deuteronomy 4:9; 1 Chronicles 16:12)
• Mindfulness of God’s presence (Psalms 46 and 139)
• Mind control, taking every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:6-8)

Faith means relinquishing control, trusting God to do what’s right when it’s right. Which dog are we feeding—fear or faith?