The meanings behind these women mean everything to me, so bear with me as we dive into their stories. Their stories are the embodiment of raw and real. This may take a few posts or few months to get through, so lets get started.
The first story is stated in Mark 5:25-32. We are introduced to a young woman who has been struggling with an infliction of blood for twelve years. She had spent all that she had on doctors and treatments, to no avail. The verse actually says, “She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.” (v. 26). She was miserable, she was in pain, and she was hopeless. She was so desperate to find something, anything to help her. She lost her family, her friends, she was exiled to be outside of the village, away from people, because she was considered unclean. She was no better than the lepers.
The word “if” is such a weak word. It usually used when we feel like whatever we wanted was unlikely to happen. “If you want” is the common phrase. It is wishy-washy to say the least. We use the word “if” when we are unsure of the answer to the question we’re asked. We are filled with doubt, and anxiety, that’s why our answers remain non-committal. But in the next verse, the word “if” is used, but not as a word filled with doubt, but as a word filled with hope, and with determination.
“For she said, “If I just touch the hem of his cloak, I WILL be made well”” (v. 28). She knew that if she was able to just touch Him, He would make her whole. He would cleanse her. So she (I’m gonna take creative license here) crawled from where she lay, through the hundreds, maybe thousands of people that were following Jesus through the city. She crawled on the dirty ground, being possibly stepped on, or pushed to the side. She was probably ignored, or berated as she crawled with desperate anticipation hoping that she could just touch him, graze the hem of his cloak, and that He would heal her. She was almost there. If she just could stretch out her hand…..
“Who touched Me?” He asked. (v.30) He immediately felt the power that healed her leave Him. His disciples were confused. “Master? You are surrounded by people, and you ask who touched you?” (v. 31) The woman, now healed of her affliction, was terrified. She fell before him on her hands and knees and wept at His feet, telling Him everything. Through her tears, she told Him of her life, 12 years of poverty, pain, isolation, and continuous ridicule. She spoke of selling everything she had in order for a chance of healing only to be let down, time after time. His next actions possibly surprised her. He gently, lifted her up, wiped her tears and smiled at her. He says “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” (v. 28)
The amazing faith that she had. The bible pretty much states she has no reason to have hope. She had no reason to believe the stories she heard of this man named Jesus were true. She could only believe, and have faith that they were true and that HE was the one that would save her life.
Have you ever had that amount of faith? I remember a time in my life where I could have said no. That I was never going to have what was spoken over my life. I wasn’t going to get married, I was undeserving of a man, made by God, for me. I met the love of my life, before I realized he was the Gift from God I had been praying for. We were such good friends, he was this rock of comfort and support and confidence that I needed exactly at a time in my life when I needed someone who would listen to me vent, and offer prayers and support.
I remember the exact moment I fell in love with Tim. We had been friends for close to 2 years, and I was struggling with some insecurities, and some depression, and a little bit of fear. I had come back from a Mission Trip and God had completely wrecked my world. I was so excited to come home from that trip and share everything God had done in my life. I shared everything with Tim. That night at the zoo, I was so content with my life. I was happy with where I was and I knew that if it was gonna be just God and me for the rest of my life, I was going to be good, that God had brought people into my life that were going to support and stick by my side, through thick and thin. When I looked up at Tim, I knew immediately that he was everything I had been praying for. I get asked a lot why I didn’t see it sooner, and I believe this to be the truth. God knew the challenges we would face before and after we got married, and He knew we needed a strong foundation to make it through the dark times we were going to face.
Moral of her story:
1) He will never forget or leave you.
2) He knows the hurt, and the pain and the tears poured out through your prayers.
3) You are just a graze away from your healing. Trust Him and KNOW that your faith will heal you.
My Life Through His Eyes 