The Trustworthy One

“The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” (Matthew 9:24 NLT)

That’s what Jesus said to the synagogue leader about his daughter who had died. That same verse ends with: But they laughed at him. The mourners couldn’t fathom that the girl was now just asleep. So, they mocked Him. 

They didn’t know, though, the One they were talking to: The One who could stop time (Joshua 10:12-14), who could materialize anything that was needed and in the most unusual ways (Matthew 17:27). And who could break all constraints of this natural world whenever and however He wanted, such as walking on water (Matthew 14:25), appearing out of nowhere (John 20:19), and walking effortlessly through a livid crowd that was about to throw Him off a cliff (Luke 4:28-30).

And although we know who He is, how many times have we doubted that He would intervene on our behalf? 

Maybe we shrink back from believing in what seems impossible because our prayers haven’t always been answered in the way we had hoped. 

When my mom was ill, I prayed and believed, but she did not get well. I took her to a healing service and put her name on every prayer list I could find. Family and friends prayed for her, too. But her condition deteriorated. I was very angry at God. My mom was one of the kindest, God-loving women on the whole planet. And yet He let her go through a horrible season.

A friend told me I was my mom’s midwife. A midwife helps a baby to be born into this world, and I, she said, was helping my mom to be born into the next. 

But where was God? Well, He was right there with my mom. It would take too long to share about all the times He made His Presence known. 

Right before that Easter Sunday morning when God took my mom home, she looked up at the corner of the ceiling, with her gaze seeming to go through it, and raised her arm as if reaching for someone.

We don’t always understand the whys, and I guess we don’t always have to. But if you think about life here logically for a moment, the fact is… unless we’re part of the rapture, we all have to leave this place, through death, and move on to our forever home. And I don’t believe we’re going to be floating around on clouds. It’s going to be amazing! Scripture states: 

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). 

I believe my mom is up there now healthy, happy, young again, and hanging out with my dad, family, friends, and even our pets. Yes, I suspect they are there, too, because the book of Revelation says that Jesus returns on a white horse. So, where did the horse come from? Heaven!

And just like Jesus raised that synagogue leader’s little girl back to life, He also raised my mom to new life—eternal life—with Him forever.

If you’re missing loved ones, too, and if you’re angry with God right now, make a decision to trust Him—trust that He has your loved ones safe and sound and that you will see them again someday. Jesus promises, and He is the Trustworthy One!

Father God, we ask that You would help those who are hurting. Touch their hearts and minds with Your soothing balm. Let them know that with You, “goodbye” doesn’t exist—just “see you later!” Amen.

~

Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.