READ: MATTHEW 9:20-22; MARK 5:25-34; LUKE 8:43-48

Drained, the blood flows,

Labelled, “unclean” and “lost”

Doctors fail, trying everything

I don’t care about the cost. “The healer is here, Jesus,”

An echo of Your name

Sings in my ears.

Can He heal my shame?

In pain, I scrabble on my hands

Battling through loud crowds.

Desperately needing You

Humbled, by the proud,

Crawling in faith,

Jesus, I trust in You,

Touching Your cloak, trembling,

Power surges through,

“Daughter,” our eyes connect,

No longer unclean, nor outcast,

“Your faith has made you well,”

You smile, I am free at last. • Cindy Lee

• Today’s poem imagines what it was like for the woman who Jesus healed from chronic bleeding. Her condition labeled her as unclean and made her an outcast—but Jesus healed her, forgave her, and enfolded her into His family. Have you ever felt desperate for Jesus? The reality is, without Jesus, we are all unclean outcasts, trapped in the sickness of sin that leads only to death. We all desperately need Jesus to heal us of sin and brokenness. The good news is, Jesus longs to heal us. He so much longs to restore us to wholeness and to relationship with God and His people that He went to the cross for us. He gave up His life for us—unclean outcasts that we are—and then, He rose from the grave. So now, everyone who trusts in Jesus is made clean and enfolded into God’s family. And when Jesus returns, we will be fully healed (Revelation 21:1-5). Until that day, Jesus promises to always be with us, responding to our pain in love.

• Are you or anyone you know struggling with illness? Jesus has so much compassion on us, and He wants us to come to Him. Sometimes He gives us physical healing, and sometimes He gives us other good gifts. Consider taking a moment to talk to God about anything that’s been weighing on you. You can present all your needs to Jesus, who loves you dearly.

“Daughter,” he [Jesus] said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48 (NLT)