This "Go and . . ." series has already gone weeks longer than I originally planned, and it will continue a few weeks more. If you are just joining in, we have been looking at the instances in the gospels when Jesus told someone to go, and then focusing on what He told them to do as they went. You can see all the past entries here if you want to catch up on any you may have missed.
This week, we stay in the gospel of Mark to look at the story of the woman who was healed after she touched Jesus' garment. After Jesus inquired as to who had touched Him, we read,
Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering" (Mark 5:33-34).
Let's look more closely at this next "Go and" scenario.
FAITH
Faith and healing are a mystery as to their connection. You probably know someone who has been "accused" of not receiving something, maybe even a healing, because he or she did not have enough faith. Perhaps that has happened to you. That accusation can sting and leave a wound for a long time, causing people to be disappointed and disgruntled with the Lord, or blaming themselves for their situation.
I know that God heals. I have seen it happen and prayed to cause it to happen. I can't answer why He doesn't always heal, except to say that we would probably begin to put our trust in how the healing happened, or in the format or formula in the healing prayer. We would then be able to turn God's power off and on like a light switch, and soon we would be impressed with our own ability. Because of our tendency to control God or to reduce Him to someone we can more easily understand, we would put our trust in our faith instead of in God.
This is perhaps why Jesus healed in so many different ways. One time, He spit and made mud. Another time, He spoke or laid His hands on someone. If He would have healed in the same manner, we would have made a ritual of the process, establishing rules and regulations for healing.
BE FREED
The woman touched Jesus while He was on His way to visit the sick daughter of the synagogue leader. This story shows that there is no limit to Jesus' power and that He is not overwhelmed by human need because He came to overcome sin and death, our last enemy. We will all die unless the Lord returns, and we will die from some ailment or simply of old age. Hebrews 11:13 tell us, "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth." I have decided I would rather die in faith than live in fear or presumption, so I will do what the woman did in as many situations as I can. She did not allow her history or the hopelessness of her situation to prevent her from pressing forward and trusting God.
Right now, I am believing God for finances--again. It seems like this has been the struggle of my adult life. God has provided, but there are long stretches where I second-guess myself and cry out, "God, where are you?" Regardless of how often this has happened, I am following the woman's example. I am pressing through the crowd of my doubt, I refuse to be defined by past experience, and I am straining and striving to be freed. I live in reality but I see the Lord, and I refuse to give up or give in
Perhaps you are struggling again with some pain or suffering, whether it be emotional or physical. I can only encourage you to press on and press through. I know the Lord wants you to be free and I cannot explain the reasons why you are not, but don't give up. Can you imagine the joy this woman had when she realized the dream of wholeness after a life of misery? That is the same joy we will have when we touch Him and receive what we believed for, even when it seemed beyond our reach or His desire to perform. As you press on and press through, I know you will have a great week.
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