Holding hard to Him

podcast link below:

https://anchor.fm/beth-madison/episodes/Holding-hard-to-Him-e19994r

Matthew 9:20-22 KJV And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Luke 8:43-48 KJV And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Most days I’m white-knuckling the hem of Jesus’s garment seeking healing from pain and exhaustion from chronic illness. And He gives healing to me like He did the woman in the crowd many years ago. With one touch, she was immediately healed of her physical bleeding. With my not letting go of Him, I am being slowly healed of a pervasive arrogance that bleeds all over my thoughts, emotions, and choices.

She knew twelve years of blood, rejection, and helplessness. I know ten years of pain, frustration, and helplessness.

For her, all was changed in a moment. One moment of action prompted by a faith driven by hope. Emptiness made whole by the One Who never changes and is the One Who can make forever changes in anyone who believes.

For me, all is being changed moment by moment. One moment of obedience prompted by faith driven by hope flows into a next moment of obedience. Just like her, I will be made whole by the One who never changes and Who helps me in my unbelief when the pain is crushing (see Mark 9:24).  

I wonder if she had a little something she carried in her pocket to hold fast to help give her hope – a handkerchief for wiping the tears of a sister she couldn’t touch, a diaper for the child she couldn’t bear or couldn’t hold from being unclean, or a patch or scrap of cloth to repair the dress that just wouldn’t release its bloodstains to the wash. Scripture doesn’t give us the details but it does speak of her determination and her declaration.

Her determination to reach the hem of Jesus’ garment for healing propelled her forward despite fear. Her declaration to reveal the power of Jesus in healing propelled her forward despite fear.

Her example in determination and declaration can help me move forward despite the fear of more diagnoses, disability, denial of faith from the pain, or defeat in faith from holding fast to the hem of His garment. For fear is the fruit of arrogance growing from the seeds of unbelief scattered across the soil of my soul. These seeds are not only fast-growing but they are invasive and pervasive. They threaten to choke out the faith-sprouts trying to thrive in hard circumstances. Yet when I remain close in to my Good God, He nourishes faith and pulls up fear. Thus, the best way for me to not give into the fear is to keep white-knuckling the hem of His garment…thank You, Jesus, that You do see me here at Your feet and You love me in a love far beyond imagination!

Psalm 146:8 The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord lifts up people who are in trouble. The Lord loves those who do right.

Reflection prayer:

Dear Father God,

Thank You that You are stronger than all things, including my fear. Thank You that You give healing in ways that are best to give You glory and for the good of Your people. Thank You that You are the lifter of my head. Please help me in my unbelief. Please keep removing the arrogance and replacing it with humility and hope.

In the strong Name of Jesus,

Amen.

written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2021