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PROGRAM D-7609
Do you know when to ignore what other people are telling you? We know it’s important for us to be good listeners, but the opposite side of that truth is that there are times we should absolutely ignore what other people are saying to us.
For example, in Mark 5:36, we read, “Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.‘” This was the man who asked Jesus to come and heal his sick daughter. On the way to his house some of his friends met them and reported that his daughter was dead, so there was no need to bother Jesus anymore. And in response to those words of death and doom, Jesus told Jairus to believe and not be afraid, and he completely ignored their bad report.
When he got to the house and announced that the child was not dead, everyone laughed at him. But Jesus ignored that, too. He just went in and brought the girl to her feet, alive and well.
It seems there are always people around to give us negative, discouraging words. They may be well-intentioned; they may be your best friends. But if their words of advice and information are faith-destroying words, then you should ignore them.
What are faith-destroying words? Anything that causes you to lose faith in the Lord, to doubt that he will answer your prayer, to wonder if his promises are really true, to question the validity of God’s Word.
Jairus had to choose to believe Jesus in spite of what his friends said to him, even when they laughed at him. Undoubtedly he had some knots in his stomach as they walked to his house; he may have even felt a little foolish, but he chose to believe the words of Jesus. And those words were life-giving.
If others are giving you faith-destroying words, you too can choose to ignore them, refuse to be afraid, and continue to place your trust in the word of the Lord. Jesus gives us words of life and hope. We must cling to them and not be afraid. He is faithful to do what he has promised. You can trust him. So, learn to ignore others when they give you faith-destroying words and advice.