Holding on by a Thread - and That's Enough

Thursday, February 27th
Holding On by a Thread—And That’s Enough
Sheila Sonon

Parenting isn’t for the faint of heart—or the faint of faith. As a mom of three—my 20-year-old son and my 17-year-old twins—I’ve learned that raising young adults means praying over everything. The days of picking out their matching outfits or snacks are over; now they face life-changing decisions, and I find myself desperately wanting to control the outcome. But God keeps reminding me—this isn’t my job. It’s His.

Most days, I feel like I’m failing—like I’m not praying enough, not honoring God enough, not trusting enough. Then I think of the woman in Luke 8:40-56. She had nothing left—except faith. She didn’t need to grab hold of Jesus; she just needed to touch the edge of His cloak. And that was enough.

Jairus, a desperate father, had to trust Jesus even when his worst fear became reality. “Don’t be afraid; just believe,” Jesus told him in Luke 8:50. Then, in His perfect timing, He restored what was lost.

That’s where I struggle—trusting His timing. Letting go. Believing that even when I feel like I’m failing, even when I’m barely holding on, the edge of His cloak keeps me going. His presence is enough.

Prayer:
Lord, I place my children in Your hands, just as Jairus placed his daughter before You. Strengthen my faith to believe that You are working in their lives, even when I can’t see it. Help me to trust You with their future, knowing that You love them even more than I do. And when I struggle to let go, remind me that Your timing is perfect. Teach me to surrender, to lay everything at the foot of the cross, and to rest in the assurance that You are in control. Amen.

Luke 8:40-56
GOD’S WORD Translation

Jairus’ Daughter and a Woman with Chronic Bleeding
40 When Jesus came back, a crowd welcomed him. Everyone was expecting him.

41 A man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, arrived and quickly bowed down in front of Jesus. He begged Jesus to come to his home. 42 His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went, the people were crowding around him.

43 A woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years was in the crowd. No one could cure her. 44 She came up behind Jesus, touched the edge of his clothes, and her bleeding stopped at once.

45 Jesus asked, “Who touched me?”

After everyone denied touching him, Peter said, “Teacher, the people are crowding you and pressing against you.”

46 Jesus said, “Someone touched me. I know power has gone out of me.”

47 The woman saw that she couldn’t hide. Trembling, she quickly bowed in front of him. There, in front of all the people, she told why she touched him and how she was cured at once.

48 Jesus told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace!”

49 While Jesus was still speaking to her, someone came from the synagogue leader’s home. He said, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

50 When Jesus heard this, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid! Just believe, and she will get well.”

51 Jesus went into the house. He allowed no one to go with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s parents. 52 Everyone was crying and showing how sad they were. Jesus said, “Don’t cry! She’s not dead. She’s just sleeping.”

53 They laughed at him because they knew she was dead. 54 But Jesus took her hand and called out, “Child, get up!” 55 She came back to life and got up at once. He ordered her parents to give her something to eat. 56 They were amazed. Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.