Has there ever been a time in your life when you just couldn’t? You couldn’t help yourself, your children, a loved one, or a friend? You tried everything, you exhausted all of your efforts, and you still couldn’t. Where did you turn? What did you do? For some people, this is where shame starts to take over. Feelings turn from, “I couldn’t help,” to “I’m useless and can’t do anything.” This is an all too familiar trap that we can fall in. But this is not where God wants us to be!
In Mark 5:21-34, we see a woman who is deeply suffering. She has been in agony for years and, because no one could help her, probably felt shame for that long, too. While a crowd gathered around Jesus, we hear her story: “A woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’” (Mark 5: 25-28).
Despite her suffering, despite her shame, this woman had great faith in Jesus. And after she touched him, we’re told, “Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (Mark 5: 29). No one could help this woman except God!
But how does this story pertain to us today? We cannot physically touch Jesus as this woman did. We cannot see Him as He was during his earthly ministry. Should we just give in to the shame that always seems to want to take over? Of course not! We are to follow this woman’s example and have faith. For it wasn’t the hem of Jesus’ garment that healed her. It wasn’t magic. What healed her was her faith in God. She put her trust in God to do what no one else could do, and He did.
This is why faith is the most important gift we can give ourselves and our loved ones. We won’t always be able to help. We cannot do all things, despite what culture tells us. It is only through faith that all things are possible. This is why bringing Jesus into our hearts and our homes is essential.
Take, for example, a story from retired Pastor Rick Warren. When his daughter was in high school, she didn’t make the cheerleading team. The coach didn’t say her skills were lacking; rather, he said she was “too big.” The shame from such a comment could have crushed his daughter. But he did not panic. He didn’t try to minimize her pain, try to retaliate against the coach, or try to fix her feelings. The pastor and his wife instead brought Jesus into the conversation. They prayed and spoke scripture over her. “You are God’s masterpiece.” “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” “You are God’s beloved daughter.” When he couldn’t help his daughter, God did.
Just as Jesus called this woman in scripture “daughter” (Mark 5:34), we too are children of God. God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us. On the way to the cross, Jesus was labeled, bullied, mocked, rejected, and suffered. He felt our feelings and more. He knows our feelings, He cares for our hearts, and He is the only one who can free us. When we can’t, God can!
Practical Tips
Rely on your faith through all of life’s circumstances
Remember that it’s often in the struggle where God shows His greatest power
Don’t underestimate the power of prayer. God may say yes, no, or wait- keep praying!
Bring God into the conversation
Trust that when you can’t, God can!
