Read Mark 5:24-28
“A large crowd followed and pressed around Him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed.”
The woman had endured twelve years of suffering, disappointment, and isolation. Yet, something began to shift. She had heard about Jesus, and suddenly she experienced hope. It seems like she tried all the usual things….seeking the care of many doctors, and depleting her resources in her attempt to figure out how to get better. But instead of getting better, God’s word says she “got worse.”
Sometimes faith begins as a tiny, fragile, little spark right in the middle of our pain. She heard about Jesus, and she MOVED! She went directly to Him, pushing her way through the crowd. The woman in this story reminds us that despite the fear, pain, or circumstances we endure, hearing about Jesus can ignite our tiny spark of faith and bring us into God’s presence, too. But we need to be willing to MOVE toward Him also.
When we feel desperation, it can either paralyze us or propel us. In this story, the woman’s desperation propelled her toward Jesus. She didn’t let her past disappointments and experiences define her future outcome! She decided to reach out and MOVE!
Key point:
Faith doesn’t require strength; it requires MOVEMENT.
Question:
Where do I feel desperate right now? What step can I take today to begin to reach out toward God?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for always meeting me in my desperation. Help me to remember to reach for You and notice Your presence in my moments of need. Restore my hope and give me the courage to reach for You again. Amen.
