When Help Doesn't Help

A man begged Jesus, "My daughter is dying. Please, come save her." Jesus went, but
when they got there, the girl had died. 
Jesus asked everyone, "Why are you crying?
The girl is not dead; she's just sleeping." He took
her hand and said, "Little girl, get up!" And the girl
sat up, alive and well again.

Getting help doesn't always fix a problem. You may have struggled with a subject in school all year and even gotten tutoring, but you still didn't get a good grade. Maybe you argued with a friend and then called her to apologize, but you're still not friends.

On the other hand, help can have unexpected results - like in this week's Gospel (Mark 5:21-43). In the story, a man's wish is simple: His little girl is sick, and he wants Jesus to make her well. 

Instead, she dies - like your hopes for a good grade or your hopes to save your friendship. Everyone is devastated; they asked for help, but things did not turn out the way they wanted.

You might be thinking the same thing about your life: "But I got tutoring! This is so unfair!" "But I called her and said I was sorry! Why didn't that fix things?"

In the end of the Gospel story, Jesus did perform a miracle and bring the girl back to life. The same thing may happen for you: Next year, you may do better in the subject you couldn't stand this year; or your former friend may forgive you and start over.

For Jesus, the point was that people should have faith in God. 

Help doesn't always make things turn out perfectly, like the little girl never dying in the first place; but it can surprise you. 

Tutoring may not have helped you get an A, but maybe you learned to stop calling yourself stupid. Your friendship may have ended, but maybe the two of you needed a break from each other for a while.

Have faith. Maybe you're just sleeping and will come back to life!

(06/25/09)