Jesus stops for you
Ten more minutes. I only have ten more minutes. “You can do this” I recite in my head as I wiggle in my seat and roll my shoulders back. Gripping the steering wheel I press down on the gas and with a glaring focus, I speed along the highway. Thanking God as I exit the highway and turn down the final street to my destination, I am relieved. I have two more minutes before I can speed out of the car. In the corner of my eye up the road, I recognize an incoming disaster. “No no no… not now!” I chant.
An elderly lady struggling with her bags starts crossing the road. Glancing over anxiously at me I clearly see her struggling to rush over to the next side. I start to panic as I press down on the brakes. If I leave my car, the flood of heaven will come rushing down and there is no way I could live with that embarrassment.
Praying the blood of Jesus and divine help, I struggle to shift the car gears into ‘park’ and shakily leave my car to help the elder. As I get her safely to the other side she grabs my hand and pulls me into a hug thanking me. Living on an island you become very familiar with this kind of gestures. But not when my bladder was screaming a countdown to 0! Smiling, she handed me a little pamphlet and walked right into the yard in front of her. Excited her grandchildren came out running to welcome and grab her bags. Assured that she was safe with tears building in my eyes I prayed to God to please give me the extra few minutes to get home.
I made it. Barely.
As I relaxed later that night, I pulled out her pamphlet and as I scrolled through it a scripture reading caught hold of me that made me think of the elderly lady.
Mark 5:25-34(NIV)
25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
All it takes is just one touch
This was quite a busy day for Jesus. According to Mark 5, Jesus had just restored a man who was demon-possessed, and after being asked to leave by the people, He crossed the river and was met with another request, to save a dying girl (Spoiler alert: by the time He did reach her she was dead. But what an amazing miracle He performed bringing her back to life). On His way there, Jesus travelled through large crowds and felt a touch. Not surprisingly when He asked who touched Him, the disciples’ ready response was ‘ really? In this large crowd, you ask this question?’.
The beauty of this story is not only the healing of a woman that suffered for 12 years with the issue of blood but the hidden message that He stopped for her. Jesus stopped. He had urgent business to attend to. A girl was dying… that should be a priority in many minds. But Jesus stopped for a timid hand that reached out in fear with the faith and belief that she could be healed.
This world has approximately 8 billion people. Sometimes I feel guilty going to God with my issues. My problems are in no way bigger than what others are facing. Do you also think like this? Are you struggling like me? This mindset is where we go wrong and ultimately suffer. God calls each of us to not only bring all of our problems and worries to Him but also have the type of faith that no matter the storm or mountain, to believe that God will answer, protect and find a way.
Be confident that Jesus stops for you
We can all live in the confidence of knowing that Jesus will stop for you. Jesus stops for you. Yes, you! He hears your cry and feels your touch. He longs to grow in a deep relationship with you.
If you have never accepted Christ, I challenge you to accept Him as Lord and Savior. If you are a Christian, are you pursuing Christ? Are you growing in your relationship with Him? Reading His word, praying and talking to Him daily?
Food for thought
Nothing you are experiencing is too great for God. He hears our screams and even our silent groans. He is listening and waiting for you. Be confident today in that knowledge that Jesus stops for you.
For free resources on praying powerfully, you can access them here.
Prayer: Omnipotent Father. How great is your Holy Name. The maker of heaven and earth. To You, we give all the praise, glory and honour. Father, I am constantly amazed at how much you love a sinner like me. I don’t understand why you continue to stop for me, but I thank you. Thank you for listening to my joys and my sorrows. May my life be a living testimony for your goodness and mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen
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