At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He . . . asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

— Mark 5:30

I don’t know about your family, but ours has a few pranksters. One game they love to play is to walk up behind someone and tap their shoulder from the opposite side and pretend it wasn’t them. Maybe you have had someone do that to you too.

For the woman who had been sick for 12 years, she knew that her only hope would be to touch Jesus. She thought, “If I just touch his cloak, no one will notice, and yet it will be enough to make me well.” She had incredible faith.

Jesus knew when she touched him because he felt the healing power flow out from him. So he asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

In the midst of our worst circumstances, when we have given up hope or tried everything, this story reminds us that reaching out to Jesus gets his attention. He is not asking us to get everything in our lives cleaned up first. He is present at all times.

Jesus is also waiting for us to admit that we need him. He knows each one of us, and even in a crowd he knows when we reach out for him.

Are you ready for a conversation with Jesus today?

Thank you, Lord, for being there for me. Thank you that you know when I reach out to you. Thank you for your healing power. Amen.