Take Heart

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district. Matthew 9:18-26

I remember the sound of my mother's footsteps on the hospital tile. I was twelve and recovering from serious surgery in the hospital. To this day, recalling the sound of her coming down the hall to see me, still brings me a sense of hope and faith. I was a child, alone and afraid, and she came to me, bolstering my progress and giving me the faith to go on.

Jesus encounters a man who is desperate and anxious about his daughter. While Jesus is hurrying on his way to the child, a woman touches him ad she s healed. Her faith made her well. She was faithful and others around gained faith by her willingness to reach out despite the many setbacks in her life. Jesus goes on to the little girl who they had given up as dead. The crowd was derisive but Jesus went to the little girl and shut out the naysayers. Sometimes in our lives of faith we need those people who will keep coming to us, day after day, and we need to shut out the naysayers. God can restore our faith through and heal us through others, when we have lost our way and lost our faith.

Today I ask God to help me have faith and help me keep moving to those in need. May we continue our daily faithfulness, so that others, who have lost their way, might find healing and balm through us. May God use us today, as instruments of faith and peace in a world that has lost it's way today.