"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 9:21-22
This woman’s faith is extraordinary. After suffering for 12 years and exhausting her resources, she dared to approach Jesus in the crowd, believing in His power to heal. Faith, even in desperation, moves the heart of Jesus. Below is a similar story of God’s power to heal from Wendy Nall, a member of C2.
In the spring of 1987, I woke up one morning to cloudy vision in my right eye and severe weakness in my left arm, hand and left leg. To the point I could barely walk and could not use my left arm and hand. I lost vision in my right eye during that time as well. Tests confirmed I had multiple sclerosis and was told to prepare for the worst. There were 5 plaques on my brain indicative of the neural scarring of MS.
I was a musician in a band and working in a shoe factory having walked away from a scholarship to play college football and had been married to a Donna for 2 short years. We were taken greatly aback, did not understand, but knew God was in control and our trust was in him only.
We prayed, the church prayed and the symptoms left in severity and the function returned to my arm, leg and eye. My sickness opened the door for me to go to college and acquire a degree in physical therapy without cost to me. A 32 on my ACT didn’t hurt either.
Eventually repeat testing was done and a subsequent MRI of my brain showed 0, that’s zero, presence of plaques or scarring. There is no weakness and I’m as active as I want to be.
The physician looking at the two scans of my brain said he saw no evidence I ever had MS even though it was clearly identified on MRI scans and in spinal fluid.
We have no doubt God miraculously healed me and opened the door for me to go to college and now minister to the injuries and illnesses of the patients I serve.
What the devil tried to use to destroy me, God took and said “Hold my Manna and watch this.”
Reflection:
- What area of your life needs healing—physically, emotionally, or spiritually?
- How can this woman’s faith encourage you to persist in seeking Jesus?
- Who in your life might need encouragement to approach Jesus for their healing?
- Art: The healing of a bleeding woman, Rome, Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter, by Unknown author – Scan from Grabar, Die Kunst des frühen Christentums, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8080658
- Songs:
- “More” – Red Rocks Worship
- “The Anthem” – Planetshakers
- “Sure Been Good” – Elevation Worship
- “Miracles” – Jesus Culture