Healing

“Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”  Jesus said this to the woman who was healed after she touched His robe.  She was suffering, not only from the physical pain, discomfort, & weakness that 12 years of bleeding would bring, but the emotional suffering brought on by years of rejection, stares, sleeplessness, and loneliness.  She had ENDURED suffering.  She didn’t want to inconvenience anyone, but she had tried everything—every doctor in the area, every medicine available at the time—DESPERATELY seeking relief.  Then He came.  She had heard of His miracles.  She may have been skeptical at first, but so many had claimed freedom from their own suffering that she had to try.  She just had to get close enough to touch Him.  He wouldn’t even have to know.  He wouldn’t even have to stop.  Surely He would be too busy to talk to her or to even care about her circumstances.  She was merely a woman, after all; and He was clearly a great teacher.  All of a sudden, there He was!  Without even thinking, she forced her arm through the crowd until her fingers felt the “swish” of fabric passing through them.  In an instant, the pain which had gripped her, even kept her from standing completely upright, was gone!  Could it be?  Was she healed?  She straightened for the first time in years just in time to see His face.  His eyes locked onto hers.  Was He speaking to HER?  Surely not!  “Who touched me?” she heard.  With her face flushing of all the color which had only seconds ago finally come to her, she weakly said, “It was me.”  Fearing what may happen next, she realized He was still looking at her—No, not AT her, but INTO her—as though He KNEW her.  Quickly, she rattled off her story and apologized for bothering Him.  He smiled.  No one had smiled at her in such a long time…and never had anyone smiled to her with such kindness—such love.  How did He know her?  She couldn’t place His face, but somehow, He was familiar and there was recognition in His eyes, so He MUST have known her.  “Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering,” she heard Him say.  With a tear of joy running down her cheek, she whispered “thank you,” and watched Him walk on down the dusty road on His way.  She would never forget that moment and would forever praise God for sending this “Jesus” through her town. 

We don’t even know this woman’s name, but Jesus KNEW her.  He KNEW she would be on His way to heal Jarius’ daughter.  He KNEW she would finally drum up the faith to come to Him.  He could have sent an apostle to heal her later on when He sent them out 2 by 2, but HE wanted to be the one.  He could have even let her quietly slip away as she had hoped to do, but He wanted to see through His own human eyes, the joy in hers, the instant she realized that she was truly healed.  He loved her—just as He loves you. Just as He did for her, He wants to be the one to free you from your suffering.  Whether it’s physical, emotional, or spiritual, He wants nothing more than to be the one to bring you peace and free you from your suffering.  Bring it to Him.  Lay it at His feet.  Allow the peace of God to surround you and renew your spirit.  I have BEEN this woman.  While I have not suffered in the physical sense as she did, I did suffer silently & alone for many years until I finally reached out and touched His garment.  At that moment, He brought me peace & released me from my suffering.  Thank you, Father, for healing ME.  Thank you for your peace in the MIDST of the storm and for cradling me through difficult times.  Thank you for your healing.