As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

Luke 8: 42-28

It seems like we have a lot of friends who are facing significant health challenges recently so the example presented by the courageous woman in the passage above should be encouraging.

For twelve long years, she suffered from what is described as a “discharge of blood” and she did exactly what most of us would. She saw doctor after doctor just like we would seek out the best specialists to find a solution, right? Twelve years later, nothing had changed and then she encountered Jesus.

She probably felt she had nothing to lose so out of her despair she reached out the Jesus and everything changed. I’m reminded of a song I used to hear our oldest grandson sing –

My God Is So Big, So Strong And So Mighty,
There’s Nothing That He Cannot Do!

Many of us have situations where we’ve looked for answers -sometimes longer than 12 years. We’ve read books, sought professional help, we’ve prayed and still we wait. So, remember her example. She kept the faith all those years in a difficult situation.