What is faith? Can I still have faith when my situation is hopeless? Should I have faith when my relationships are irreparable? Should I believe that all will be well when a prognosis is n not good? Take heart! No matter how deep the pain, irreconcilable your relationships or terminal your health condition, faith is still alive.
The last woman on Minute Mondays is an unnamed woman of the Bible. She was not identified in the New Testament but her faith impacted Jesus so much that He wanted to meet her. We look at the Bleeding Woman today, who is a woman of faith.
Who is this woman? In the book of Mark, we see Jesus at work. He was on his way to minister to the family of Jairus, whose daughter was dying. Jesus’ teachings and healing power have attracted throngs of people. Wherever He goes, the crowd would follow him. Then we are introduced to this woman in Chapter 5, verses 25-29.
During her time, women were considered “ceremonially unclean” when they have their menstrual periods. They have to avoid any contact with any person until after the seventh day following Jewish regulations. Imagine the insecurity this woman felt because her bleeding was not a monthly occurrence but has been affecting her life for twelve years! She felt rejected, ostracized and “dirty” because of her condition. She struggled for years hoping for a cure but there was no one who could give this to her.
She was in a rut until she heard about this Rabbi (teacher) who heals people. Finding out that this Jesus, who performs miracles is coming to her part of the town, she probably did not waste any time. She immediately sought Him. Her mind and her heart knew that only Jesus can make her clean again, only Jesus can stop the bleeding. She stepped out in faith and got the healing she needed.
The woman who braved the crowds only to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe. Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. (Mark 5:29)
Am I like her? Oftentimes, when problems arise, we solve it ourselves or call specific people whom we think can help us. If we have car problems, we call our husbands or a mechanic. If we have health problems, we immediately seek our family doctor.
What if the issue cannot be resolved by a simple call to a specialist? What if the issues are difficult to handle like a broken relationship or life is at stake? Who do we ask for help? Who do we seek to fix problems that are out of our hands? What is the most important thing we should be holding on to during these times? The answer is Faith.
According to the online dictionary, faith is a complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Where do you put your complete trust? Do you rely on what you know, your experiences or your connections?
Faith believes even before it happens. Faith gives us hope. Greater faith is when you believe that everything that happens is under the sovereignty of God and that everything will work according to His will.
Who or what is the object of your faith? Is it yourself, your husband, family or even your job or money? The reality is that people will fail us, break our hearts and cause us pain. Most of the time we also hurt ourselves by the choices we make. Material wealth will be consumed until we are left with nothing. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12
Have you put your complete faith in Jesus Christ to heal your physical, emotional and spiritual pain?
What can i do? The woman believed the doctors would heal her. She spent all her money in order to get well. But her efforts were futile. However, the moment she entrusted her healing in the hands of Jesus Christ, her bleeding stopped immediately.
30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” 31 His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’32 But he kept on looking around to see who had done it.
Many people were calling to Jesus. Many sought Him. But Jesus, who was and still is a personal God, knew everyone in the crowd. He knew their needs the same way as knows ours today. He is sensitive to our cries for help. He hears our prayers. All He wants us to do is come to Him.
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Matthew 11:28-30
If Jesus knew everyone personally, why did He ask, “Who touched me?” The question was not for his satisfaction but for the woman to step out in faith and declare that her healing was indeed from Him. Jesus was not seeking attention or applause from the people nor from the woman, but he was seeking the broken and surrendered heart of the woman who received healing.
33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” Mark 5:33-34
The woman received healing from the object of her faith, Jesus Christ. He, in turn, not only healed the woman physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. The woman’s faith in Jesus’ power to cleanse her and make her clean again is a step of true surrender to Him. True peace whose only source is Jesus Christ was given to the woman as well.
Jesus knows what you are going through. He sees the tears you shed every night. He knows the pain of not being loved, the uncertainty of your future and the future of your children. He sees the many things that you do to fill your life but nothing seem to make you whole again. He sees the brokenness of your heart.
Quit questioning and blaming Him for the difficult circumstances in your life. Instead, come clean and admit that you cannot live your life on your own. Admit that you have been too proud to believe that He should be the object of your faith. Though you may not fully understand what is happening, please trust that He is indeed concerned about every detail of your life. All you need to do is surrender to Him completely. Will you put your trust in Him today?
Prayer:
Dear God, I don’t know what I’m going to with my life. But I realize that you know me more better than I know myself. That is why today, I ask that you cleanse me from all the wrong things I have done. Cleanse from the sin that separates you from me. Heal my heart Lord the way you healed that bleeding woman. Be the one to control my life from now on. Direct my every step from now because I put my faith in you. Change my heart and make me the person you want me to be. I ask all of these, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Thank you for walking with me for the past four weeks. Thank you for the encouragement you have been sending me and for sharing the posts to others. I am blessed to have shared those four weeks with you. Will you journey with me again as I start a new series?
