And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Luke 8:43-48
After a winter like we’ve had here in Northwestern Ohio with record breaking snowfall and many days below zero, we are all ready for spring. Personally, I longingly look out my back window at my pop-up camper covered in snow and think of the days when we will pack up for some trip and head out for an adventure. Soon, yes, soon, spring will be here.
Winter can be dark, gray, barren, dead. It burdens my heart to be in winter. Now, I mean a ‘personal winter’. You know, when you are dark, gray, barren, and maybe feel like you are on your way to death. It is easy to focus on the challenges before us: the challenges of a sickness or family death, the consequences of sin, a troubled child under our care, despairs of a failing marriage, a difficult job environment, They can all feel like death and we can try to carry this burden alone. It’s heavy and overwhelming.
I remember sitting in that doctor’s office. This expert explained that my six- week old baby may never see. His optic nerve and retina were dying. The darkness enveloped me like a flood. A heavy burden lay on my mind.
I suspect the woman in the above verse felt quite dark and burdened, too. She had been sick for twelve years! Yet, a glimpse of hope was before her. Maybe she manipulated her way through the crowd to just touch His robe. Maybe she looked up and realized He was right there within her reach. Jesus was her hope. He healed her with only a touch! Not only did he heal her physical need, He healed her spiritual need.
On my way home from that doctor’s office, I called my husband who immediately went to prayer. I saw that glimpse of hope that the sick woman had seen and reached out to touch. I reached out to pray. I wasn’t sure of the outcome, but I was sure that I couldn’t carry this burden alone. I needed something more …Someone more.
Are you burdened today? Is a ‘personal winter’ dragging you down? Read on . . .
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22
You may be in a dry and desolate place, but Christ is the healer of all. He can heal our physical needs, but even more importantly, He heals our spiritual needs.
Love, Julie
P.S. Later, we were sent to specialists to examine my son’s eyes. The doctors were quite surprised to see that his optic nerve and retina looked absolutely fine. Yes, he has 20-20 vision. No glasses needed! Isn’t God awesome?
