The Hem of Jesus…I’ll be honest it’s been a stressful couple of months for me. The more I speak with others and open up about how I’m feeling and ask how they are doing (really doing). I have realized that many of us are in the same boat. We are trying to hold on emotionally and some of us are hanging on only by a thread. It is hard to say the words ‘I’m good’ to the cliche ‘how are you greeting’.
Ultimately, I am good, I have a relationship with Jesus who is the greatest support and assurance I need. Well, I have everything I need and want physically as well. I have a wonderful family and church body. I am blessed upon blessed. But I am still holding on. So many women and teens and friends are struggling right now.Ttrying to balance time, commitments, friendships, family, work, social pressures, children, children’s schedules and crying newborns. Also, tense relationships, loneliness, depression, anxiety, sadness, grief, pain…I feel I could name so many others. My friend made a great point the other day. If we are going to hang on by a thread, may it be a thread connected to the hem of Jesus’ robe.
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet.
In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Luke 8:43-48
This woman touched the hem of His robe and she was healed from a 12-year-long hemorrhage. A 12 year long trial and struggle. In that time, if you were bleeding you would have been considered ceremonial unclean and it was a point of shame for her. She reached out, in faith hoping that maybe this could cure her ailment and she could be restored. I wonder what was going through her mind, perhaps something like this: “There are so many people, if only I could get close to him, perhaps this shame would go away, If only I could touch the hem of his robe. I don’t care if he sees me, I don’t care if he even knows my name, I’m unworthy to stand before him, If I can just touch him, maybe there is a chance I could be healed and restored”.
So she did.
She reached out and touched him.
Are you still trying to get through this life on your own? Fighting and straining to just hang on by a thread. Are you alone in your emotions and thoughts? Maybe your situation is more than you can handle and you don’t have strength to fight on your own anymore. Maybe you have never reached on to the hem of Jesus and if not, I encourage you to do so today.
He says with open arms:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28?-?29
Sweet friend. Hold on to him. Do you see what happened when the woman did this? She was healed immediately and not only healed physically but spiritually as well. Jesus saw her, even though she tried to remain hidden, he recognized her, he looked her in the eyes and said ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you, Go in peace’. He wants us to find true lasting peace in him. Peace that never leaves us even though the circumstances around may be anything but ideal, peace from Christ is a gift on the most stressful of days.
Don’t be ashamed of the struggle you are facing, it seems we are all in one. Instead I encourage you, after reaching out to Jesus, even it is only by a thread of faith, to also reach out to one another. Let’s support each other and encourage one other to stand firm in God who is our refuge and strength in time of need.
And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
You are not alone. Jesus sees you. Others see you. Reach out and allow yourself to be healed and encouraged and blessed by the one who created you and is with you now at this very moment. He sees you and sees your struggle and trial. Jesus also faced isolation, loneliness, betrayal, sadness, grief, anxiety He faced human emotions and He can relate and empathize with you today, this very moment. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15?-?16
You are not alone. He sees you. May you find grace to help you in your time of need.
The Lord bless you and Keep you,
Kara
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