Mark 5:32–34 (NASB 95)
32 And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”
Examine / Explain
A woman who hemorrhaged for twelve years had faith that if she touched Jesus’s clothes she would be healed. And she was. Jesus felt this happen, the woman felt this happen. Jesus wanted the confession of the woman and waited for it to happen. After twelve years of having to hide who she was, she was finally able to publicly acknowledge that she was free of her affliction. In that moment Jesus let her know how loved she was by calling her daughter.
How do I apply this to my life?
I hid my affliction for decades. I was stuck in a porn addiction. Feeling this there was no way out. Feeling unlovable and unclean for the longest time. It wasn’t until I could confess it publicly that I could start finding freedom. Working to understand that I am a son of the most high God. After decades of believing I was rejected, wrapping my head around the fact that I am loved is still a battle I deal with. I think of this woman who was completely alone in her life for twelve years. She was isolated. She had no support from friends or family. She was unclean and was restricted in her faith. What complete despair she must have felt. Until one day, in complete desperation, believing that the only thing that could save her from this for the rest of her life was getting close to Jesus. What a lesson. In our own isolation, it usually takes a rock bottom moment to finally draw close to Jesus to find salvation from whatever has gotten us isolated. And that moment when Jesus looked into her eyes and called her daughter. I bet that was an overwhelming flow of emotions. Twelve years of solitude and to have a man look her in the eye. An intimate moment face-to-face with the savior and knowing that she is loved. When was the last time I thought about that face-to-face moment with Jesus? My salvation experience felt strange. My growth and moments of taking huge steps in my faith were usually tear-filled recounts of my utter failure as a believer. But when was the last time I stopped and thought about face-to-face intimacy with my savior and Lord? It’s probably been a while. I am His son. I am co-heir with Christ. Do I believe it?
What is my response?
Father, I feel like life is in transition. Like I am in a holding pattern, waiting for something great. I live out my daily life still pursuing You, muddling through the struggles of life but lacking something. Maybe it’s FaceTime. I am always saying my prayer life is lacking, yet I never do anything about it. I try to do better for a little while, but then life gets in the way. I say I want to trust You more; what does succeeding in trusting You look like? Is it measurable? Is it quantifiable? Or is it someone you are? I must be a trusting person of You. I have to be, not do. The doing is an exercise of being. I want to love others because of who I am in You. So, do I still not grasp who I am in Christ? Is my struggle a lack of actions or knowledge? Or is it a lack of being? I need You, I know that. I need Your help wrapping my head around this. Help me. Amen.
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