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Christian, Christianity, End of days, Faith, God, God's promises, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Miracle, Miracles, Never give up, Never giving up, Promise, Promises
Have you ever experienced a season in your life that seemed as if it would never end? All of us at some point can testify to the feeling of wanting to quit on our dreams and various desires that have yet to occur. It is the nagging feeling of throwing everything away, when you have waited and hoped for so long – and yet if you give up you will never realize the dream or the promise that God has made to you.
In Mark chapter 5, verses 25 – 32 there is a story of a woman with an issue of blood. In this passage, a woman whose name is unknown is suffering from the illness of bleeding. In verses 25-27 the scripture says in the NIV version: “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” The woman in question has been treated for bleeding during a 12-year span, however not only did her condition not improve but it grew worse.
Sometimes, we endure circumstances or challenges which test our endurance. In some cases, our situations may not improve but worsen as time goes on. As a result, the potential to give up increases as strength begins to wane. However, if we continue reading in Mark 5, we can see that there is hope:
“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 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.”
There are a few things that we can take away from the above passage:
1. We must press forward despite the obstacles – The woman who was suffering from the issue of blood understood that she had no choice but to believe that a miracle could happen. In verse 27 it says that when she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak. In her mind, she knew that Jesus had the power to heal all infirmities. So, she believed that by moving through the crowd which could have been accepted as an obstacle, that she would be that much closer to her miracle. There are various obstacles which present themselves in our lives. However, we must move forward with the dogged determination that it takes to fight the good fight of faith. If God has promised something to you, He will perform just what He has said. Philippians 1:6 says that if God has begun a good work in you, He will carry it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.
2. Jesus had the supernatural power to heal – Throughout scripture there are various occurrences of men, women, and children who experienced healing at the hands of Christ. By touching the cloak of Jesus, the woman was instantly healed. It was the divine and supernatural power of Jesus Christ which brought healing to what seemed like an impossible situation. Have you ever faced something that seemed impossible? I can certainly tell you that there are at least a couple of things in my own life that seem impossible to me. However, what you and I must do is remember that all power rests in the hands of God. If Jesus was able to heal a woman who bled for 12 years, then the very power that resides in Him is the same power that can deliver you. We must be willing to surrender and allow God to lead us to victory.
3. Faith must be activated – Hebrews 11:6 in the King James Version says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” The woman who needed healing had great faith. Jesus said to her in verse 32 that her faith had healed her. Basically, it was because of her faith in what Jesus could do, that it was credited to her as righteousness. As a result, she was completely healed from her suffering. Your faith must be activated if you are going to access the miracles and promises that God has made to you. The woman who was suffering is a great example of what faith and standing firm in what you believe is. She chose not to give up, despite the obstacles and the amount of time she waited to be healed. In the end, it was her faith in what God could do through Jesus that fueled her to victory.
Has God made any promises to you regarding your present and your future? Those of us who are in Christ have access to the miracles of God, but it takes faith and a willingness to move forward. Giving up isn’t an option because to do so is tantamount to saying that God cannot perform a miracle. By following after God through obedience and faith, you are a candidate for His blessings.
If you do not know Jesus as your personal savior, you are missing out on the very miracles and blessings that can be available to you. By accepting Christ as your savior and confessing your sins, you are able to experience the great things that God has in store for you. The greatest message of the Cross of Christ is not just that He died for you, but that He never gave up. When Jesus went through the process of the crucifixion, He was burdened and undoubtedly felt like giving up. However, His obedience to God, and knowing that His actions would save many, was what drove him to die on the cross for you and I.
Jesus never gave up on His mission, and neither should you. Stand on the promises of God, and even when it becomes difficult, do as 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, which is to be steadfast and unmovable. We all feel like giving up sometimes, and often times waiting for God to deliver us can be wearisome. However, God is a promise keeper and when it is your timing for a miracle, you shall have the victory in the name of Jesus Christ.