Press into God
When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” ~ Mark 5:27-28
Most times in life the breakthrough you’ve been praying for is closer than you think, and all it takes is one determined step of faith to reach it?
I can’t even imagine what the woman in today’s scripture reading must have been going through. She was sick for twelve long years. The passage says she suffered through many treatments from many physicians. In that time, those treatments were often harsh, painful and even medieval. Not only that, but this woman spent all of her time and everything she had just for the chance to be made well, and instead of improving, she only grew worse.
After twelve years, it must have seemed like all hope was gone. On top of everything, she was considered unclean. The law required her to stay away from others because she was seen as contagious. She was isolated, worn down, and likely exhausted in every way. She was an outcast of society, but then she heard about Jesus.
When that happened, something shifted in her perspective and suddenly she had a glimmer of hope. Not a weak hope, not a maybe, but a deep conviction inside. So much so that the scripture says she kept saying, “If I can just touch His clothes, I will be made well.” She didn’t say it once and move on. She said it again and again until it took root in her heart. She continued to say it until she got to Him. What she heard about Jesus, she repeated to herself until faith came alive inside of her, then she acted on it.
She pushed through the crowd. Weak, tired, and probably in pain, she made her way toward Him. She didn’t wait until she felt better. She didn’t wait for perfect conditions. She moved forward in faith right in the middle of her struggle.
She reached out and touched the hem of His garment, which indicated that she was probably crawling through the immense crowd because of her weakened condition.
In that moment, everything changed. Jesus felt power leave Him. Out of all the people pressing in around Him, only one person drew that power. Why? Because only one reached out in faith that He would heal her.
Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”
It wasn’t the crowd or the proximity. It was her faith. She heard, she spoke, she believed, and she acted.
The part I love in this account is that even though she didn’t feel strong or look qualified, she wasn’t even supposed to be there. But none of that stopped her. Her condition didn’t disqualify her, and her feelings didn’t define her. Her faith led her and moved her to the place of her salvation and healing.
How often do we do just the opposite when we don’t feel well or get discouraged when things seem too hard. Instead we usually pull back, wait or hesitate, using the weakness as an excuse rather than an opportunity to get closer to Him. But this woman pressed in. She made a decision that her answer was found in Jesus, and nothing was going to keep her from getting to Him.
Maybe today, your faith just needs to be redirected. Not in what you see, not in how you feel, but in who He is and what He has already said.
Here are some ways you can get started today:
- Find a promise in God’s Word that speaks directly to your situation, write it down, and keep it in front of you daily.
- Speak that promise out loud consistently, not just once, but until it settles deep in your heart and changes your circumstances.
- Make time to be in His presence, through prayer, worship, or being in a place where His Word is taught and don’t isolate.
- Take a step of faith even if you don’t feel ready, action strengthens what you believe in your heart.
- Stay consistent, even when you don’t see immediate results, faith grows through persistence
Faith comes by hearing, and sometimes that means hearing yourself repeat out loud what God has already said.
Today I want to encourage you to press into God with bold, unwavering faith. Don’t let your circumstances, your feelings, or your past experiences hold you back. Just like the woman who reached for Jesus, you can reach for Him right where you are. Keep speaking His promises, keep moving toward Him, and trust that His power is still available to meet you in your moment of need.
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 5:25-34
25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,
26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.
27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.
28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.
34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Journal Questions
- What area of your life do you need to press into God for right now
- What promise from God’s Word can you begin speaking over your situation
- What has been holding you back from taking a step of faith
- What is one action you can take today to move closer to Jesus
- How can you stay consistent in building your faith through hearing and speaking His Word
The Daily Dose 