“ Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.” Matthew 9:22

Jesus spent the last three years of his young life, performing miracles, captivating audiences and achieving a following. He crossed borders physically as well as socially. His time on earth was limited, but He crammed a lifetime of lessons into it for us. Lessons that would build our faith in Him – turn us back to God – help us recognize our sin – remind us of the openness of God – showing us how much we need someone to take away our sins. As a woman in Jesus’ time, they were not considered on the same level as their counterparts, but Jesus took a special interest in them. He proved, in His short life, that God loves all people and wants them to join Him in heaven someday.

On one occasion, a woman who had been suffering an unknown ailment for twelve years, followed Jesus as her last hope for healing. She’d heard about the miracles He was performing. Her condition wasn’t common. She had seen many doctors, but no one was able to heal her. She spent most of her money on her malady, but to no avail. Because she was considered unclean, she became obsessed with finding someone to help her through it.

There are so many times in life when we simply don’t get answers for certain health issues. Even in this time of medical exploration and discovery, there are certain diseases that are still incurable. There are still conditions that leave us feeling helpless, hopeless and even to the point of obsession over them. There will be times when turning to God is the only answer. It should never be the last resort.

So, here was a woman, considered unclean by those around her. She had been bleeding for all those twelve years. She had come to the end of her rope. She could’ve chosen to end her life – as some people do when they’re desperate – but she heard about Jesus and the miracles He had performed. She acted in complete faith. Pushing her way through a crowd of mostly men and boys, she was moving into dangerous territory. She would be even further ridiculed because of her gender. Even so, she made her way with persistence. She even thought to herself, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” That shows complete trust in someone she didn’t even know – someone who gave her hope – someone who she had confidence in because of what she had heard.

She must have been shoved to the ground by the growing crowd, but she managed to crawl to her Savior’s feet. She touched the hem off His garment. He immediately felt strength draining from Him. He knew her thoughts before she spoke a word. He felt her faith. He could tell she believed Him to be her Messiah, because of what had just occurred. The woman was immediately healed of her infirmity.

This is precisely the kind of faith God wants from us – total reliance on His will – trusting that He can do the impossible -believing that all our troubles, worries, infirmities and even death have been overcome by our Savior, Jesus. His strength is unending. His power immeasurable. He’s just waiting for you to believe in HIm.