Arise!: How to Get Back Up When Life Has Knocked You Down. A 5-Day Plan With Jacques McNeilSample

Little Girl, I Say to You, Arise!

It is fascinating to watch young children playing sports. Inevitably, someone gets knocked down, whether intentionally or not, but like clockwork, they get back up and continue playing as if nothing happened.

In the game of life, things happen, and we get knocked down—like losing a job, divorce, a wayward child, or a negative doctor’s report. Unfortunately, the ability to get back up becomes increasingly more difficult as time and life progress. Often, divine intervention is needed for us to get back up and into the game.

In Mark 5, Jairus, a synagogue leader who heard of the miracles Jesus performed, pleaded with Jesus to come and heal his ailing daughter. While they moved through the crowd, Jesus was detained. Shortly after, people from Jairus’ home came and shared news that no father ever wants to receive. “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” (v.35b)

Can you imagine how he must have felt? A convergence of disbelief, sorrow, and anger. He could have thought, “Certainly she would not have died if You would have just come when I asked.”

The announcement of the little girl’s death did not dissuade Jesus from going to be by her side.

People were weeping and wailing loudly when Jesus entered the home. (v.38) This included professional mourners who were compensated to lament to help comfort grieving families. Not only did his daughter’s death cost him emotionally, but it also cost him financially, as he was required to pay the mourners.

Jesus asked, “Why are you making so much noise and crying? The child isn’t dead. She’s just sleeping.” (v.39)

Many Bible commentators agree that Jesus questioned their mourning because it signaled a lack of faith. As a result, He ejected them from the home to pave the way for a miracle.

Before we can rise again, we may need to follow Jesus’ example and eliminate the naysayers in our circle.

In a space where a miracle is about to take place, fear, doubt, negative self-talk, murmuring, and complaining, whether from ourselves or others, cannot dwell simultaneously.

For Jairus and his family, Hope had arrived, and His name was Jesus! When Jesus went into the room where his daughter was, “Jesus took her by the hand and said “Talitha cumi`!” which means “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

Today, I hear the Lord saying, “Even though I didn’t come when you initially called, [Enter your name], I say to you, arise.” The things you have experienced do not define you, nor do they have the power to hinder or abort what I placed within you, so ARISE.

My friend, I am personally inviting you to join me on a journey through this series over the next four days. Together, let’s explore how our expectations, encouragement, courage, and forgiveness can arise when life has knocked you down.

Declaration: I declare that despite being knocked down by circumstances, today I am arising and shining, for the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon me, in Jesus' name. (Isaiah 60:1)