Hanging On by a Thread

About a month ago, a pastor friend lost his wedding band. He looked everywhere, prayed, and found it in a pretty logical spot, given the chores he was doing that day. Later, on Facebook, he posted his story along with the comment, "Don't ask why I waited six hours to pray... please... don't ask..." I wanted to comment, "It's because, when it takes me five hours to pray about a headache I've been struggling with all morning, I don't feel so bad." Haven't we all been there? I could totally relate to what he was saying. Why do seasoned Christians, people I would consider to be "the best of the best" -- never mind them -- why do I (when I know what God has taken me through and all He has done for me) wait so stinkin' long to ask God for His help??? It's crazy, right! And, it's our flesh. No one is "the best of the best." We all battle our human nature -- some days more than others. 

Mark 5:25-34 records the account of a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years. It said she had "suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all she had." This woman may have once been well-to-do. The trouble began, and she headed to the first physician; but day after day, doctor after doctor, and payment after payment, she only got worse. Chances are, by the time she crossed paths with Jesus, she had exhausted all her options. She'd spent years away from her family and friends, not wanting to render anyone "unclean" should they touch her. Perhaps there were those willing to look her in the eye, demonstrate some compassion; but most just turned away wondering what she had done to deserve a twelve year sentence. Weak, penniless, alone, and almost as invisible as the street dogs that went about searching for scraps, she pulled her cloak over her head, crouched down low, and made her way to Jesus.

But, is this simply the story of a woman chronically ill, isolated and all out of options? Is this the story of a woman who thought, "What have I got to lose?" Is this a woman who, when all else failed, turned to Jesus? It might seem that way at first glance, but look at verse 28:

“If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

This was no last ditch effort. This woman had faith. The word rendered in most translations as well, literally means "saved or restored." This woman said to herself, "If only I can cling, as long as I am able, to His clothes, salvation is mine." This woman had spent all of her money on doctors, had spent a great portion of her time away from others, but she was waiting. Waiting for the One who could truly save her. Not exhausting all other options before she found Jesus, but, exhausting all other options until she found Jesus. Until real restoration was hers.

Jesus, knowing that power had left Him. looked for her, and upon coming face to face with her said, "Daughter, your faith has made you well.” The word well? That's right, "saved." Her faith had indeed saved her. And that twelve year disorder that had broken down her body and her life? "Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction," Jesus told her. Healed. A word that meant physically restored. A word, I'm sure she longed to hear, but only after she was sure she had touched the cloak of her Savior.

So, I'm going to pray more -- even about the little things. But I'm also going to stop beating myself up over "not praying soon enough." I'm going to just hold on -- even if it's by a thread, so long as it's a thread on the hem of my Savior's robe.