The crowd must have been massive. To have someone in your town, walking through your streets, who was the subject of interest for many generations, was special. Not only was He walking through town with His executive team, He was changing lives in the process. In a moment of time people were realizing miracles in their lives. The crowd must have been massive.

Jesus was on his way to assist a family with their dying daughter. A father in deep distress had come and begged Jesus for his help. As Jesus was complying and slowly making His way to this man’s house of desperation, the crowds gathered and pressed about Him. Shouting and talking and pushing about Him, this was a scene for the ages.

There we find a nameless woman. Her life for many years had been one of disappointment after disappointment. Her health was failing and her resources for survival had been exhausted by her repeated attempts to bring healing to her terminal health condition. Her only chance…her last chance was in asking Jesus for a miracle similar to ones she had heard repeated about him. But the crowd was massive and she was weak and small.

Not able to dislodge others to intersect with Jesus face to face, this weak, dying woman makes one extreme effort to press and strain through the crowds. Her goal was to just touch a piece of His clothing. Not just a casual touch but a touch that had her life’s need, hunger, desperation and hope all rolled up into one. This was the touch of her entire faith.

We know how the story ends. Jesus feels her touch (amazing what He notices) and confirms to her and the listening crowd that her faith, her belief in Him, her complete reliance on Him, had made her whole. He tells her to go home in peace. The victory was hers. Mark 8:34

What is your need today? Are you like that woman who has tried solution after solution to remedy your problems? Is there something in your life that is killing your spirit and draining the very essence of who you are? Have you been disappointed by those who you looked to for help only to find that the help you hoped for did not exist?

There is a solution for you today just as it was for that woman of long ago. Like her, we will have to decide if we are going to quit or make the reach through the crowd for the relief we need. There are crowds in front of us blocking our way. There is a crowd of doubt and depression that stands in our way. There is a crowd of negativity and disharmony that stands in our way. There is a crowd of guilt and remorse that stands in our way. The crowd in front is thick but don’t quit.

Reach out with your remaining faith, knowing that it will only take a touch to make the difference in your life. Hold nothing back. It will take all of your effort to reach through the crowd to make contact with One who notices the smallest touch.

Like that nameless woman, He longs to tell you that your faith has made you whole and to go in peace. So don’t quit now. He’s waiting for your touch.

Photo by Fastfood