Bible Readings: Matthew 9:20, Luke 8:43
Do you want to be whole again?
I imagine you long for it too, just as I do.
I yearn for wholeness in my heart, my body, and my soul.
I long for Jesus to breathe life into every broken, weary, or silent part of my body, my mind, and my life.
Sometimes, becoming whole takes far longer than we ever expect.
If you have ever waited for what felt like forever, you can almost step into her shoes.
Sometimes, the search for wholeness costs you everything.
Sometimes you push through the crowd, the chaos, and the noise, desperate to find wholeness.
They called her the woman with the issue of blood. Her struggle became her identity.
But do you realise she is still among us?
She is the woman with the issue of a fibroid.
She is the woman with the issue of infertility.
She is the woman with a failed marriage.
She is the woman with a terminal sickness.
She is the woman with mental issues.
She is the woman who suffers from depression.
She is the woman with _____________
She is me
She is you
All we have to do is fill in the blank.
Every story in the Bible weaves threads that reach into our own lives. In one way or another, we find ourselves reflected in their journeys.
She came behind him.
Why?
Maybe she was not bold enough to come face to face.
Maybe she was too embarrassed about her situation.
Or was she unsure how He would react?
It makes sense that she would slip in quietly from behind, doesn’t it?
But here is the beautiful part.
No matter how we come to Jesus, He sees us.
Whether you are the woman who is so ashamed of your situation,
or you are too shy and tremble to your bones,
or you feel inadequate to approach his presence,
Jesus sees you…
That fills me with hope.
One scripture of encouragement for you who is ashamed or too shy or too doubtful to draw near,
Then she reaches out and touches the hem of his garment.
He turned…depending on whose account you read. Jesus asks, ‘Who touched me?’ After the drama, she owns up.
He called her ‘daughter’.
Within that word lies another invitation.
Jesus gave her wholeness, and now He invites her into relationship.
Hold on a bit, friend; in a few days we will delve deeply into this invitation.
Let us walk through her journey to wholeness together. She must have heard stories about Jesus.rd of Jesus.
She sought Him
She thought within herself.
She touched Him
Do you notice how her thoughts and actions moved in harmony?
Her mind and her steps were completely aligned.
Her faith blossomed
Hearing –> Thoughts –> Actions
If you desire faith, let what you hear,
what you think, and
what you do align with what your heart believes
Do you want faith?
Then your actions and your journey must echo what your heart truly believes.
What does your heart believe?
Do you believe Jesus can make you whole?
Not only in your body, but also in your mind and your soul.
Ah!
Friend, the Lord Jesus wants you to believe Him.
That faith takes root in your heart and moves you to reach out for His garment.
Sometimes our hearts wrestle with belief. We go through the motions, yet doubt lingers.
How so? You might wonder.
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Straightway the father of the child cried out and said with tears,
Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark 9:24
This man prayed for the Lord to help his unbelief.
He had come for healing. He wanted his son to be made whole.
We can have enough faith to believe that the people around us will be made whole. Just as Jesus asks, Do you believe?
The Journey To Wholeness Begins With one word: ‘Believe’
What do you do when you long to believe, but doubt sweeps over you?
What do you do when waves of unbelief toss your heart about?
Simple:
Pray for the Lord to help you at this crossroads.
Sit and listen. Fill your heart with the Word and testimonies.
Reflect deeply on what you have heard.
Reach out for His garment. Take that step. it.
Prayer
Dear Lord, teach my heart to rest in your promises; let my thoughts be filled with you and you only. Father, make me a woman filled with faith. Give me the boldness to approach your presence. Bid me to draw nearer to you. Jesus make me whole in your presence. Heal every area of my life. Let my bones, my flesh, my heart, my soul find healing by the power in the Name of Jesus. Amen
By His Great Grace,
Ifeoma Samuel.
If this article encouraged you, then “THE INVITATIONS” is for you.
Every day we are wake to beautiful invitations nudging us to draw nearer, lean closer and glean more. We see them even in our least favourite places. Jesus sweetly pours out grace and offers us INVITATIONS.
