Take Heart, Daughter

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." and the woman was healed at that moment.

-Matthew 9:20-22 

As I was flipping through my bible tonight, I wanted to find something that spoke to me. duh. of course I did. but I wasn't finding a thing. I started thinking about things I need: time, love, & healing. I then of course used my reference bible to find versus with "healing" in them. but again to my dismay, nothing. and then the story of the woman who touched his cloak raced through my mind. I looked it up, I read it. "that's it?" i thought, "can't be...I thought there was more to this story. but that's just it. it was given 3 versus in this book. and it is one of the most important lessons hidden on those beautiful pages. "take heart, daughter." I love that part. like a dad to his crying child. "your faith has healed you." her faith. not the doctor down the road. not a home remedy. not a diy. but it was by faith alone. and you know what? it worked for her. she was healed in that moment. all she did was touch his cloak. her fingertips brushed the dust from the very fabric of Jesus and she was healed. 

Sometimes I feel like her: bleeding (okay, maybe not in such a figurative way). but I have areas in my life that have been cut wide open and the blood just rushes forth from the wound. Many times I say to myself, "if I can just touch his cloak. if i can just get close enough to him he will heal me. -- if I just cry out for help, he will answer" and you know what? he does. he holds me and says, "take heart, daughter. you are healed. i am here and you are healed." 

Tomorrow? well tomorrow is surgery day. The first day to a long journey of recovery that will ultimately lead me to continue doing what He has called me to do. but of course there is apprehension. there always is with something like this. and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. 

It reminds me of Abraham in Genesis when God calls him to go from his home and begin a journey to make nations. now, I know I'm not makin nations over here, but we both are about to begin a journey. I would be surprised if Abraham wasn't nervous about taking his family into the great unknown. but guess what? he did it anyways. He went & God made nations from him. He built an altar in the places he had met God. and He said, "remember my promises to you when you see these altars."

I have built my altars. I know he is faithful. I know he is good. So I must trust. Even though I'm nervous, I am hopeful in the ways God will work through me this semester. Tonight I feel both like Abraham and the woman. I am about to begin a long journey and I am in need of Jesus' compassion and healing. I am in utter need for his words: "Take heart, daughter. for your faith has healed you."

All the time, God is good.

Hallelujah. Amen

EmilyAnn