What Are You Waiting For?

Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." (Mark 5:29, 34)

You might have surely heard the story of the bleeding woman found in the gospel. She had been losing blood for 12 years, and not only that, she had been waiting for 12 years as well. And waiting is one bitter pill no one ever wants to swallow.

She has spent all that she had, which implies she must have been wealthy, and yet she wasn't healed. She has visited the best of surgeons, all in search of a lasting solution but to no avail. At this point, friends and family may have even deserted her because of her unending condition. She would probably wake up each day with one question on her lips, "But when?" "When will all this stop?"

If you have ever waited for something you dearly wanted, perhaps a healing, a restoration in relationships, or an emotional breakthrough, you would have surely realized the vulnerability and tenderness that waiting brings. The bleeding woman experienced all these. She had been anticipating healing for over a decade. She suffered from physical pain as well as emotional trauma, and her bleeding left her unclean, according to the Law. Waiting was becoming her second nature, and a solution seemed to draw away from her by the day.

But through all those decades of waiting, it seems that hope still beamed in the bleeding woman's soul because when Jesus came, she had enough courage to try and reach out for healing again, to believe and hope again. She must have woken up that morning and said to herself, "I'll try just one more time."

If you have been praying the same prayer and anticipating God's healing for a long time, don't give up reaching out in hope. Be like that woman in Luke 18. She had attempted justice several times but was turned down, but she persisted. So friend, don't give up reaching out to the LORD.

Ask the LORD to help you respond like the bleeding woman with an unswerving hope in Him, even when you haven't seen anything change. While we don't know how or when the Lord is going to move on our behalf, we can continue to make a choice to stretch out to Him, trusting in His power to heal, restore and deliver our desire.

Hey! I charge you this morning to burn all other alternatives and possible quick fixes that the devil presents. Forget the side attractions and keep your gaze on God and God alone. I know you have waited for a long time, so why not take just one more step. Pray again, fast again, worship again, give again, reach out again, and I know you will smile eventually.