Reaching Out – Jennifer Woodley
‘She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.’ Luke 4:44 (NRSV)
There it is again! Faith and action working together bringing God’s blessing. Should she risk it? Why not? She has risked everything else for twelve long years and for all her searching she was still no better. So, in desperation, she reaches out to touch the fringe of the master healer’s garment. And her faith in Him made her well.
The greatest thing we have to fear is fear itself: the enemy that doesn’t want us to believe or receive. The enemy that whispers in our ear, ‘What if it doesn’t work?’ and ‘What if He doesn’t answer?’ Fear is the enemy that sows seeds of doubt, leaving us unsure and unable to act upon our faith. We remain stuck, going nowhere. Never to discover the life and liberty found by courageously reaching out to touch the ever-loving presence of Christ.
Jesus did not reject her; He will not reject us. She offered Christ her humble faith and Jesus blessed her with His healing and peace. Perhaps our crisis is caused by cancer, bankruptcy, depression or grief. And after trying everything else, sometimes all there is left to do is move towards God from behind and stretch out towards Him with the little faith we have. And then we hope that something will happen that we are almost beyond believing can happen. Let’s not be afraid, but just believe.
‘Jesus there is nowhere else to turn but to you, so I will reach out in faith and watch what you will do. I believe that you can help me. Amen.’
Jennifer is an Australian freelance writer who enjoys encouraging others on their faith journey through writing and mentoring. Contact | 
