There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
We must never give up on Jesus. We must believe that he wills our good even when twelve years of our life seem to prove otherwise. What if today is the day Jesus is passing by? What if we'll have the opportunity to touch his garment and receive his power at any moment? Our faith and hope must stay alive or he will pass by without releasing his power. We must believe that the truth of the healing power of Jesus is greater than whatever present circumstance afflicts us.
The child is not dead but asleep."
And they ridiculed him.
The LORD can raise us up. He desires to say to us, "Talitha koum," and "I say to you, arise!" But we have to believe for it. We have to hope for it. We have to at least be willing to touch Jesus when he passes by. We should welcome him into our houses even when hope some lost and despair consumes us. We walk by faith, not by sight. Delays and impossible circumstances, to us, should merely be opportunities to exercise our faith (and by necessity so too our patience) and our hope. They should not be occasions of despair because with God all things are possible.
God wants to heal us even though we don't deserve it. Even while we are enemies Christ loves us and gives his life for us. We don't need to think twice about whether we deserve it before we believe for a miracle. We don't deserve it. But he delights to do it nonetheless. Even more than David wished he could give new life to his rebellious son Absalom does God wish to give sinners new life in the Spirit.
"My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom!
If only I had died instead of you,
Absalom, my son, my son!"
In fact, Jesus does die in our stead, to give us his own life. What confidence this should inspire! How can we limit our hope when we know this is true?
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
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