Have you ever reached the end of your ability to cope? “I’m at my wit’s end.” “I just don’t know what I’m going to do.” “If one more thing goes wrong, I’m just going to ...”

            It’s the rest of that last statement that can lead us to make horrible choices. “I’m going to hit the bottle again.” Or “There’s no use even trying to fix this, so I give up!” Or “Nobody can help me. There’s just no hope anymore.” Or “What’s the use?”

            You may come to the point where you are pushed beyond the limits of what you think you can endure. One of the ways we describe this is “finding yourself at the end of your rope.” Maybe you’ve been there, or maybe you’re headed that way. Our scripture today tells us about two people who were very familiar with these feelings — of hopelessness and despair — and who were at the end of their ropes.

Who can I turn to for help?

            Two desperate people with very different backgrounds each heard that Jesus was nearby. Both made their way to Jesus and saw him as their last, best hope. Jairus was one of the leaders of the synagogue. He came to Jesus and fell at his feet, repeatedly pleading with Jesus to come and heal his 12-year-old daughter. “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so she may be made well and live.” Jesus agreed and went with him.

            As they went toward Jairus’ house, the crowd pressed in on Jesus and he felt power go out from him. Mark tells us a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for years went up to Jesus. Her illness made her “unclean,” so that she was an outcast. She should not have been in the crowd. She should not have approache

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