Issues. We all have them. Sometimes we can deal with them quickly and sometimes they can be overwhelming. Sometimes we just have this one issue that we really struggle with or one issue that always seems to linger and taunt us. So how do we deal with that? How do we get rid of our issues and move forward? Let's go to the word of God and take a look at how one woman dealt with her issues.
One of the more popular accounts in the Bible about a person with issues is the woman with the issue of blood. In Matthew 9:18-26, Jesus is on his way to save a girl who had recently died. As always, there was a crowd around Jesus and the woman who was suffering with an issue of blood said to herself, "If I can just touch the hem of his garment, I will be made whole." So she touched the hem of his garment and when she did, Jesus stopped and said to her, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole." From that moment, she was free from her issue of blood.
In those times, according to Jewish law, when a woman was on her menstrual cycle, she was considered to be unclean (Leviticus 15:25-27). She was not allowed to enter the temple to worship and anyone that she touched became unclean as well. This woman was an outcast for 12 years. She was not able to fellowship with friends and family or attend worship services for 12 years and for 12 years, she spent the majority of her money on trying to get well, but nothing worked for her. Even though she was considered an outcast in the community, she had heard of Jesus and his healing power. She pressed her way through the crowd and made her way to Jesus. The scripture states that she touched the hem of his garment, not his arm, not his shoulder, but the hem. The hem of his garment was near the ground. I can imagine that the combination of the crowd and her painful issue of blood forced her low to the ground, so the only thing that she was able to get close to was the hem of Jesus' garment. Also, she didn't grab his garment, she was just able to stretch her hand enough to touch it probably for a second, but even in that second, she was completely healed.
We can learn so much from this woman on how to deal with our own issues. No matter how long or no matter what kind of issue you might be struggling with, healing and deliverance is readily available for you through the power of Jesus Christ, if you want it. This woman was determined to be healed. She had her mind made up that she was going to get to Jesus no matter what people said or did to her. Even though she was considered unclean outcast and she was not supposed to be out in public, she went to Jesus. Even though she probably got stepped on a few times, she pressed her way to Jesus. She sought him out and got healed. We have to do the same thing with our issues. We have to press our way past our pain, past the distractions of life, and reach out to Jesus with everything that we have in us.
Hebrews 4:15-16 states, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touch with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need.."
Philippians 4:13 states, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."
We all struggle with something, but we have the awesome opportunity to bring all of our issues to an understanding, merciful God who is faithful and full of grace. Amen.
This week's scripture: II Corinthians 5:17 " Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold all things have become new."
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