What Is a Divine Opportunity?

June 17, 2023

By Brooke Holt

“And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.” Matthew 9:23-25

If you stop to think about it, divine opportunities exist every single day. Yet, it is easier or seemingly safer to choose the way of the skeptic. I have a friend who just shared about her liver being devoured by cancer. Her situation seemed hopeless! Then two friends came to her home. They prayed for three solid hours. After those three hours, one of them told my friend that she was healed. It seemed too good to be true until a baffled doctor declared the same thing to her just two weeks later. The faith and persistent prayers of these friends broke through the hopelessness and brought the healing touch of Jesus.

At the home of Jairus, we see another divine opportunity. Tragically, a little girl has died. Yet Jesus has come. With Jesus, even tragedies can become victories. He speaks hope and life into the environment of grief. Instead of embracing his hope, the mourners laugh at Jesus. Surely, this man is crazy as he has declared this dead girl is only sleeping.

Jesus fully grasps the reality of the situation, but he also knows his plan of resurrection. When Jesus declares that she is “not dead but sleeping”, he means that her condition is temporary and not final. The mourners do not embrace these hopeful words of Jesus, but the parents certainly do! They accompany Jesus into the girl’s room along with Peter, James, and John.

There she lies dead. For everyone but Jesus, her situation appears hopeless and worthy of the wailing and weeping of the mourners. Yet, the presence of Jesus transforms a hopeless situation into a divine opportunity. Just as Jairus requested, Jesus lays a hand on her (see Matthew 9:18). Jesus takes her by the hand and the impossible occurs – the once dead girl arises.

In all his years at the synagogue, Jairus had never seen a person raised from the dead. No one had until Jesus came! His presence can change every situation. With Jesus, your hopeless marriage can be healed; your wayward child can be restored; your bankrupt business can be resurrected. Nothing is impossible for Jesus. In fact, every challenge and trial can be opportunities to see the power of Jesus at work in your life.

Jesus invites you to take a different perspective than those gathered to mourn at Jairus’ house that day. He invites you out of doubt and skepticism and into a new realm of faith, a faith that believes that he can resurrect, heal, and restore. Every challenge, every trial, every place you feel hopeless or helpless can be a divine opportunity.

It begins with you asking. Bring your needs before the Lord with faith and expectation and see what Jesus wants to do.

Reflection:

Do you consider how the Lord wants to reveal himself to you through your trials and tribulations? Can you entrust these situations to him today asking him to bring hope into your hopelessness. Jesus is still the God of miracles! We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resources:

Follow the ancient way of the Psalms and find the life God has for you. A model for vibrant worship, the Psalms provide practical wisdom to traverse the circuitous path of life with trust and hope. Pilgrim’s Path: A Study of the Psalms traces our spiritual walk with God—from discovery and delight, through doubt and disappointment, into joyful confidence. Whether used for individual or group study, Pilgrim’s Path is for everyone who seeks to know and love God more and find life in him.