Maybe, Just Maybe

Suffering was her middle name. Twelve long years of pain, disappointment, disgrace, shame, and loneliness.

No one wanted to be around her for fear that her “uncleanliness” would rub off onto them. Nobody could help her.

She went from one referral to the next, each one failing her. No one understood what she was going through because her condition was incomprehensible.

She invested all she had on remedies and experts who she thought would relieve her from her suffering. She tried and tried; but each time, she ended up worse off than before.

Then she heard about Jesus. Maybe he could help the likes of her.

Like the woman with the issue of blood, you have your own cup of suffering. One that no one understands or knows how to address.

“Speak to so-and-so,” or, “Try such-and-such,” rolls off the tongues of well-meaning loved ones. But instead of getting better, you grow weary.

Soon people begin to avoid you because they don’t know what to say to ease your pain. Worse still, they avoid you because they are afraid that your issues will rub off onto them and disrupt their world.

It’s been a long treacherous road. You’ve cried, hoped, dreamed, and prayed, but your condition has steadily declined.

But then you sense some commotion. It’s Jesus stirring up something in your spirit, and you believe that if you can just position yourself to encounter Him, you may be whole again. Maybe, just maybe.

But the crowd is in the way. Tradition tells you that people like you should stay away. People with your issue shouldn’t be around “normal” people. Besides, Jesus is on a mission to help someone far more important than you – a prominent figure, well respected and influential. And you? Well, you’re just a woman. Nobody even knows your name.

Your need is important to you but the crowd pushes you aside and tells you, “Just keep praying privately. Don’t bring your issues around the rest of us…we find them disturbing; and there are more pressing matters Jesus must attend to.”

But your spirit won’t give in. You use that last bit of strength you have to reach out as your anguished soul lets out one last cry – one that no one but Jesus hears. Everyone else surrounding Jesus is rubbing against Him and touching Him, but only you – the woman everyone pushed aside –  get a miraculous healing.

Never let anyone push you aside and make you feel that your pain doesn’t matter, or that you are not important enough to get Jesus’ attention. You are. Reach out and grab onto Him. Your faith has the power to stop Him in His tracks.