Have you ever asked yourself this question, “Why bother?”

Let’s ponder a story found in the book of Mark chapter five. Mark is my favorite gospel, and I love chapter five. It is filled with so much truth. I cannot cover the chapter in a blog, but we can explore a small part of the chapter.

Jesus had calmed the storm as He and His disciples crossed the lake to the other side. As Jesus stepped onto the shore, much ministry awaited Him. The crowd grew large and began to press in on Him. A synagogue leader named Jairus worked his way to Jesus and fell at the Master’s feet. He began to plead for his daughter who was very sick. “Jesus, if you will come to my house and place Your hands upon her, I know she will be healed.” Immediately Jesus began following Jairus to his home.

Don’t you know Jairus was so excited? I can just see his tears and his smile because he knows the great healer is about to turn the situation around!

As they headed to the home of Jairus, Jesus was interrupted on the journey. A woman we know as the woman with the issue of blood, touched the hem of the robe Jesus was wearing, and instantly she was healed. Maybe Jairus was thankful that the woman’s miracle came quickly, but no, Jesus had to stop and have a chat about the miracle. I wonder if Jairus was thinking, “Come on, Jesus, we have to hurry!”

After chatting with the woman and the crowd, Jesus turned back to follow Jairus. Then, some of Jairus’s friends told him it was too late. “The child is dead. No need to bother the Teacher anymore.” Why bother? It is too late.

Mark 5:35-36, “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?” Overhearingwhat they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Jairus is hearing more than one voice. He is hearing voices around him saying, “Why bother? Jesus cannot do anything now.” Why bother to believe? Why bother to ask? There it is – the question the devil would love for us to get stuck in our heads. “Why bother?”

Why bother to lose weight because I just gain it all back, and I have so much to lose. Why bother? Why bother trying to improve my relationship with this person? I do all the work. Why bother? I messed up so badly as a parent and I cannot change things. Why bother? Why bother praying about this another time? I have prayed about it so many times. It is like Jesus does not even hear me. Why bother? I have tried to walk with Jesus, but I fail repeatedly, so why bother?

We all have lists of “why bothers.” I know I have had mine over the years.

Beloved, that is exactly where the devil would like you to get stuck! He wants you to ask the question over and over – why bother?

Then, Jesus, after hearing what the crowd had said, told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” 

Which voice will Jairus listen to? The voice that says, do not continue bothering Jesus. You are a bother. He does not care. Or will he listen to the voice of Jesus who says, “You are not a bother. I am still at work here. Do not be afraid. Believe.”

Jesus told Jairus to ignore what others were saying and listen to Him, walk with Him, continue the journey with Him. “Jairus, I am still at work in the situation. I have not forgotten about you. Keep walking with me. You are not a bother!”

Jesus arrives at the home of Jairus, and there were plenty of naysayers awaiting Him. Jesus put them outside of the house. He then raised the girl. Do you think Jairus was thankful that he listened to THE voice instead of the voices?

Are you wrestling with why bother today? Do not listen to the voices, but THE voice. We must do what Jesus did and put the negativity outside the house. We must be like Jairus and keep walking toward victory even when it looks impossible.

When “why bother” is tormenting you, stop and read Mark chapter five. Read about Jairus who could have said, “Yes, why bother?” Instead Jairus stepped up in faith and kept walking toward a miracle.

This story teaches us that God delights in rescuing us. Do not miss this! God. Delights. In. You. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”  Because He delights in you. You are not a bother. 

Today, as I write this blog, we are in the season of the Winter Olympics. Athletes from all around the world have converged upon Italy to ski, ice skate, and bobsleigh. And let us not forget everyone’s favorite –  curling! Every athlete’s desire is to step up to the winner’s podium and be awarded a medal.

Let me tell you about John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania. He did not win a medal. In fact, he came nowhere near the medal platform. But, in defeat and in pain, he came to represent something much more profound and enduring than many sportsmen achieve in illustrious careers.

The year was 1968 at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Tanzanian John Stephen Akhwari started the Olympic marathon with all the other runners but finished it alone and in last place. Several miles into the race, Akhwari encountered a pivotal moment that echoed far beyond the finish line. As he ran the race, a severe fall left him bruised and bleeding, and he was urged by the medical team to withdraw. But Akhwari pressed on through pain, leg cramps, and dehydration. He was determined to finish the race. As he crossed the finish line, well after all the other contestants, the stadium stood mostly empty, yet the few remaining witnesses cheered fervently for the battered athlete. His courage was captured by a television crew, and what he said echoed louder than any medal ceremony.

His resounding declaration, “My country did not send me five thousand miles just to start the race. They sent me to finish the race.”

Over my decades of serving God, I have watched many embark on the journey with God, only to falter and abandon their pursuits. Distractions, discouragement, fatigue, the allure of sin, painful situations, disappointments, and apathy can derail spiritual journeys.

I will be seventy-fives years old in September, and I want to finish the race strong. I want these remaining years of my life to demonstrate living a powerful Christian life amid pressure and adversity. I was not saved to just start the race but to finish the race.

A few years ago, I worked with a personal trainer who pushed me to become stronger. After a tiring time of weightlifting and sweating, I would be ready to quit. My trainer would say to me, “Come on, Barbara. Last set, best set.”  With determination, I would give it my all.

I do not know how much longer I have on this earth, but as I walk with God, I can hear Heaven saying, “Come on Barbara! Last set, best set.”

Recently, I have found myself listening to an old song over and over. The song was written by the late Nancy Harmon. I do not regret almost six decades of walking with God. It has been a joy and a privilege. Without hesitation, I say, “I’ve Come Too Far to Look Back.”

I’ve come too far to look back
My feet have walked through the valley,
I’ve climbed mountains, crossed rivers,
Desert places I’ve known.

But I’m nearing the home shore
The redeemed are rejoicing,
And heaven’s angels are singing,
I’ve come too far to look back.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

When my husband first became pastor of a church in Ocala, Florida, it was a move of several hundred miles. Obviously, we had to find somewhere to live. We met with a builder and decided to construct a home in a new subdivision. That meant that we would not have a place to call our own for several months.

There was a woman who lived in New York but owned a home in Ocala. She spent more time in New York than in Florida, so she offered to let us use her home for a modest amount of money. This meant storing our possessions and using the possessions that were already in her home.

The only stipulations were that we took loving care of the home, invested time into keeping up both the inside and the outside, and we were not to use the master bedroom. She let us take possession of the home, investing time and energy into the home, but understanding we were stewards of the dwelling not owners. The owner also wanted us to understand that a portion of the home was dedicated solely for her use, and not for our use.

I recently heard a pastor preach a message on giving. He apologized profusely, as if he were doing something wrong by talking about money. This has become a controversial issue in the Church but should not be!

Are there churches and ministries that talk about money too much? Yes, yes, yes! Are there ministries whose leaders live “high on the hog” abusing the use of the money given? Yes, yes, yes! Have there been cases where ministers and ministries have thrown out prayer requests and kept the check when both were in the envelope? Yes, yes, and yes! Have some ministries misused funds? Yes, yes, yes!

These facts are all sad, but make no mistake about it, they will answer to God Himself for taking advantage of people. God is not mocked!

In my opening, I shared a story that is a good demonstration about money and possessions. The owner of the home gave it to us for use while in Ocala, but the owner was still the owner. She also wanted a portion set aside and kept for her use. The rest was ours to use wisely and enjoy.

Gaylon and I have never been rich people, and it is doubtful that we will ever be rich people. Yet, God has been so faithful to provide for us through almost fifty-five years of marriage and ministry. There have been very lean times, and I mean VERY lean times. There have also been times when we had more than we needed. Regardless of which situation we were experiencing, we always gave back to the Master that which was His. We understood that all we had, belonged to God and we were stewards of what He placed in our hands.

I am a steward. You are a steward. God has given us finances, gifts, and abilities. A steward is someone who takes care of and manages someone else’s property or belongings. The steward is not the owner but is responsible to the owner for all that the owner has entrusted to them.

What is in your hands today? Whether it is a little or much, God calls you to use it faithfully. Instead of clinging to what you have, trust the One who gave it to you. That which you invest in his kingdom will never fade.

“He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful … – Deuteronomy 8:17-18

Our granddaughter Madison was in Birmingham over the weekend, so we had the pleasure of spending time with her. When she attended Samford University, we saw her almost every weekend. Now that she has graduated, she lives in Baton Rouge, and we do not see her as often.

Last night was fun as we shared pizza, watched a Hallmark movie, and played “25 Words or Less.” Lots of laughter.

While chatting during her visit, we began reminiscing about events we had shared in the past. Madison recalled when I was visiting her in Baton Rouge while she was in junior high school. Her school was performing a play, and Madison wanted to attend and see her friends. I agreed to take her.

The students were doing a terrific job of acting, but my favorite part was watching the delight on Madison’s face as she watched her friends’ acting skills. When the production was over, Madison and I hurried out to avoid the traffic congestion that would be in the parking lot.

As we were driving home, we began to discuss the play we had just witnessed. Both of us admitted that it really did not make a lot of sense, especially the ending. The story left far too many loose ends. Alas, we would never know how it turned out for the people in the story.

The next morning, Madison went to school, and I picked her up that afternoon. She looked at me with a big grin and explained why the play made no sense to us.  Madison said, “We left at intermission.”

Yep, we did not realize that we walked out without knowing the rest of the story!

To say that we live in strange and chaotic times is an understatement! It is important for us as believers to realize that we are living in a time of intermission. The story is not finished. God will have the final word. Don’t check out!

Is what you see around you upsetting? That is understandable. It would do the people of God well to turn to the final chapters in Revelation again and again. Faith needs to know how the story ends. Faith needs to be assured of the ending, especially when it can be hard to see God, and especially when times are tumultuous.

Living in the time of intermission can be trying. We are all in this place – the place of longing for God to bring forth the ending. Romans tells us that the whole creation is waiting for God’s full redemption. “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” – Romans 8:18-22

Surely, we hunger and thirst for justice. We long for the day when God’s holy name will be fully honored, the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We pray for the day when there will be no more pain. We look forward to the day when sin is gone for good, hatefulness is gone for good, and politics has run its course. We look forward to God having the final word. It will come! It will!

Read Revelation twenty-two over and over. What a blessed hope we have! Entrance into the holy city, the new Jerusalem, that beautiful, shining city where God will dwell with His people. A city where pain, chaos, and injustice will be gone. A city of extraordinary joy. A city of life, where death and mourning and crying and pain will be no more. A city of joy, where God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. What a blessed hope we have!

That is the end of the story. Don’t checkout during intermission. Wait for the end.