In God’s Perfect Timing

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Scripture Text:  Mark 5:21-48

Isaiah 40:31

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

(ESV)

The idea of waiting in our modern society is foreign.  We have microwaves that cook piping hot food in a few minutes, information available at the tips of our fingers, and can have things delivered to our homes.  While these things enhance our lives, there are still things in life we must wait for, like the renewing strength from the Lord when experiencing a need. 

The scripture text of this posting involves two people in need who approach Jesus.  First Jairus, a leader in the synagogue, approaches Jesus regarding his daughter who is near death.  Sensing the urgency of the matter, Jesus gets up to follow Jairus and lay hands on her so she receives healing (Mark 5:21-24).  By this time in Jesus’ ministry, he had a reputation for performing miracles so a great crowd follows Jesus to see what will happen (Mark 5:24).  However, one person in the crowd approaches Jesus to receive healing but unlike Jairus, she quietly reaches out to touch Jesus’ garment (Mark 5:25-28).  While scripture does not tell us why she did not approach him directly for prayer we can surmise she may have felt unworthy, or more likely not wanting to interrupt Jesus on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter. 

Whatever the reason, Jesus senses healing power has left Him and asks who touched him.  The disciples ask the obvious question, you see the crowd around you, and you ask who touched you, probably thinking, everyone.  What the disciples did not understand is that Jesus meant someone touched Him to receive healing.  Not wanting to have the woman quietly receive healing but instead wanting the crowd to hear about her healing miracle, Jesus pauses to allow her to share what has occurred in her life (Mark 5:29-34). 

During this time of pausing, Jairus’ daughter dies prompting someone from his house to tell Jairus not to trouble Jesus any more (Mark 5:35).  Similar to the lack of faith of the Disciples in the storm (Mark 4:39-40), Jesus asks why they lack faith.  Apparently, the one coming from Jairus’ house had faith Jesus could bring healing but not faith He could raise the dead.  While not mentioned in scripture, there may have also been a hint of anger over Jesus pausing to confront the woman.  Whatever was the reason for the lack of faith by the person from Jairus’ house, Jesus was not late and a miracle greater than healing was about to occur, the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Mark 4:41-43). 

God is never late and always on time.  It is our impatience and lack of faith that causes fear and doubt God has heard our prayer.  Delays in answers to our prayers may be,

1)      We need a renewal of strength (Isaiah 40:31) – The Lord hears and wants to answer the prayers of His children but is even more interested in his children being spiritually strong.  It is during the waiting process that we must take time to meditate on God and His Word.  This spiritual food makes us strong while we wait for the answer to our prayer.

2)      Spiritual warfare (Daniel 10:10-14) – Although Daniel’s prayer was heard, the answer was delayed 21 days due to spiritual resistance.  Christians are in a spiritual war against spiritual powers that are unseen and interested in destroying them (Ephesians 6:12; John 10:10).  While this may cause delays in the answer to our prayers as it did with Daniel, God hears our prayers and will do whatever necessary to deliver the answer.

3)      Unforgiveness/sin (Mark 11:24-25) – God paid a high price to provide forgiveness for our sins and expects us to extend forgiveness to others.  Failure to have forgiveness in our hearts means we are not in sync with how God thinks.  Romans 12:2 reminds us that living for Christ involves the transformation of our minds to be more like Christ.  Forgiveness is the dominant desire of God’s heart for God does not want to see anyone perish (2 Peter 3:9).  Lack of harmony with the mind of God delays and hinders the answers to our prayers. 

God’s answers to our prayers are never late and given when we are ready for them.  While there may be spiritual warfare that delays the answer to our prayers, we have a God that is more powerful than any obstacle and willing go to battle to deliver the answer.  However, sin and unforgiveness separate us from God.  Therefore, when we pray, we must search our hearts and seek forgiveness of any sin and forgive others that have wronged us.  God will answer our prayers, but the answer comes in God’s perfect timing.