The woman who clings to Jesus
Another busy summer is wrapping up, and the school year is beginning. As a ministry family, summer is a whirlwind of outreach, events, and visitors. And as a homeschooling mom, the responsibilities of the school year are tremendous.
Regardless of life stage or occupation, most of us feel demands, needs, and deadlines pulling at us every single day of our lives.
What are we holding on to? As one busy season fades into another, where do I cling?
In Matthew 9:20-22, we see the shortest account of a woman who has generally been defined by her suffering. But I like to think of her as the woman who clings to Jesus:
Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years approached from behind and touch the end of his robe, for she said to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I’ll be made well.” Jesus turned and saw her, “Have courage, daughter,” he said, “Your faith has saved you.” And the woman was made well from that moment. -Matthew 9:20-22, NIV
Right away, we see that the woman who clings to Jesus recognizes her need.
She had an honest understanding of her need for healing.
There are two temptations we often face when assessing our needs.
First temptation: Deny and ignore our struggles
The first temptation is to deny or ignore our struggles. Our culture perpetuates this.
(Be honest, how many times have you shared an “It’s fine, I’m fine” meme in the past few weeks?)
Some time ago there was a hilariously poignant commercial about heart attack awareness in women. The commercial opened with a woman running around frantically taking care of her family in the morning. She handles business phone calls while feeding the kids breakfast and packing lunches, all while ignoring the fact that she is having increasing pain. And when she does finally end up on the floor and calls 911, she apologizes for the inconvenience and admits that she might be having ‘just a little heart attack.’
Many of us live this way. We ignore our need, and pretend our emotional, mental, and physical suffering simply does not need to be addressed.
Second temptation: Our need becomes our identity
The second temptation we face when assessing our need is to swing to the opposite extreme and allow our need to become our identity. The problem we are facing becomes a mountain before us that consumes our entire view and keeps us from moving.
This is Chicken Little, so concerned the sky is falling that he can’t talk about anything else. Or, this can look like a person who is draped in worries, allowing burdens to hang around them like a heavy blanket. When our need becomes our identity, it is crushing.
The difference in the woman who clings to Jesus
This woman who clung to Jesus knew she had a need. She didn’t ignore it, and she wasn’t paralyzed by it. She allowed her need to drive her to Jesus because she knew He could heal her. Her view of Jesus was bigger than the ongoing crisis she was facing.
“She allowed her need to drive her to Jesus because she knew He could heal her. Her view of Jesus was bigger than the ongoing crisis she was facing.”
Secondly, we see that the woman who clings to Jesus walks in faithfulness.
The scripture tells us that she approached Jesus from behind, with a plan to touch His robe, and with faith that simply touching Jesus would bring her healing.
This woman was sick for a very long time. She must have been weak, and very likely, in pain. She walked in faithfulness and it took tremendous effort.
One passage of scripture I love is in Exodus chapter 14. Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt but they were stuck between the Red Sea and the oncoming Egyptian army. The Israelites were terrified. They begged God for help and complained to Moses about their predicament. Moses tries to comfort them and reminds them to trust in the Lord. And then the Lord answered. Exodus 14:15 tells us: “The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.” The Message translation says “order the Israelites to get moving.”
I love this, because as Christians we tend to want to dwell on Psalm 46:10 -“Be still and know I am God.” And yes, this is also very important. But the Christian life is not all “being still.” If we are perpetually ‘waiting on the Lord’ or ‘praying on it’ in every single area of our lives, there is a problem. We are also called to walk in faithfulness. We are called to action.
“If we are perpetually ‘waiting on the Lord’ or ‘praying on it’ in every single area of our lives, there is a problem. We are also called to walk in faithfulness. We are called to action.”
The woman who clings to Jesus walks in faithfulness. She is neither paralyzed by fear, nor living in denial. The woman who clings to Jesus presses through her anxiety, boldly taking her place in the crowd, and reaches out to Him.
Lastly, we see that Jesus meets the woman who clings to Him. This sick and suffering woman pursued Jesus with a plan and with faith. And she did it. She touched the edge of His robe. At that moment He could have just kept walking. Jesus was surrounded by people and He was already on His way to heal someone else. But Jesus meets the woman who clings to Him.
Jesus meets her with dignity and compassion - He sees her.
Jesus meets her with encouragement - “Have courage”
Jesus meets her with true healing - “Your faith has made you well.”
Jesus meets the woman who clings to Him.
We also need to be people who cling to Him. I don’t know your needs, but Jesus already knows them. He knows whether you are tempted to ignore your needs or to be consumed by them.
One of the hidden blessings of this Christian ministry/homeschooling life is that my needs are ever before me. There are very few moments in which I’m tempted to think, ‘I’ve got this!’ The tremendous need I am surrounded by reminds me daily that I must be clinging to Jesus.
You may not be sure what exactly you even need right at this moment. Ask Jesus to show you the spiritual, emotional, and physical need in your life.
When you have identified a need, ask Jesus to help you walk in faithfulness. Is there an area of your life where God is telling you to “Get moving?”
And be encouraged. While Jesus never promised to instantly fix every problem in our lives, He has promised to meet us, to sustain us by His Spirit, and to empower us to live in faithfulness. Jesus meets us as we cling to Him.
Prayer:
Lord, I know of the woman whose fingers grazed the edge of your garment. She chased after you quietly, seeking healing, longing to be invisible in her need. I have no room left for such social graces. I press toward you reaching with both hands, failing to stifle the sobs escaping my lips, unable to restrain the desperation erupting from inside. I am the desperate woman, and I cling to you with both hands. The hem of your robe beneath my grip, I need you. I cannot breathe one more impossible breath in this dragging my body up the mountain life without your help. And the gawking stares of onlookers do nothing to restrain me. Let them look. I am starving for peace and thirsty for true joy. I need you, Bread of Life, Living Water, Creator, and Redeemer. Please meet me.
Jess Proudfoot is an urban missionary in New Bedford, MA. She is part of the church planting team and also serves as the Director of Women’s Ministries at Grace Harbor Church in New Bedford.
