Leaving Aidan at the hospital each evening was painful.

While we took comfort in the fact that he was receiving the best care possible, there were still intense feelings of sadness mixed with worry after kissing him goodnight and waving to the night nurses as we staggered wearily towards the elevators.

Thankfully, we lived only 25 minutes away from the hospital and it was an easy drive home on the empty State Route 51 freeway at night. Many commutes home were spent debriefing and coming up with ideas of things to eat as we were usually starving after a day of looking after Aidan’s basic needs.

One night while we were heading north on the stretch of freeway that curves through the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, I noticed a giant glowing cross off to the left. A beautiful sight, but I didn’t think much of it. Then I saw it again the next night. Then the next one. Pretty soon, it began to feel like a little hug from God each time we passed it.

A Timely Message

One morning while I was taking care of business on the computer, I decided to find out some information about the church this cross belonged to. I remember feeling full of anxiety about Aidan’s condition and everything else we were dealing with at the time and there was a sermon listed on their site that resonated with me that day. It was titled “Don’t be Afraid, Just Believe.”

I clicked on the sermon link and listened to the pastor tell the story of a synagogue leader named Jairus pleading with Jesus to heal his daughter who was deathly sick. While on the way to heal his daughter, Jesus is sidetracked by a woman who needed healing.

During this time, family members show up on the scene and tell Jairus, “Your daughter is dead, quit bothering Jesus.”

Jesus responds with these simple words: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

I love this.

Jairus has every reason to be afraid! His little girl is dead… Yet Jesus responds with something so painfully simple. Our default posture is often one of worry, despite the fact that “do not be afraid” is the most often repeated command in the Bible. Again, it is a command, not a suggestion. This means we are completely capable of rising above fear, however impossible it feels at the moment.

God cares about what we are going through. My favorite Bible verse is 1 Peter 5:7 which says:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

After listening to the sermon, I felt a renewed sense of hope. After I finished up my morning work, I went to visit Amy and Aidan in the hospital.

Amy made a point of reading stories to Aidan each day from the Jesus Storybook Bible and on this afternoon she happened to be reading A Little Girl and a Poor Frail Lady: The Story of Jairus’ Daughter. Was this a coincidence? I think not.

I’m thankful for the frequent little reminders from God to avoid succumbing to fear and anxiety. That illuminated cross reminds me each time I pass it to stop worrying and just believe.