What is God doing in you at the moment? Perhaps you know and sense that He is at work, but are unsure exactly what He is up to. Maybe you feel totally ‘lifeless’ spiritually and are even wondering if God is there at all. Possibly you have been praying about a situation for so long that part of you has given up believing that any change is possible. You could have started today feeling dejected and disappointed…

However you feel, take a look at the incredible story of the woman who was healed as she reached out to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe (Luke 8:42-48 – http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible). This woman had a long history of medical and physical anguish. Her problem had dogged her for 12 long and lonely years, making her ceremonially unclean and therefore unable to have normal relationships with anyone.

No-one could do anything for her. She had totally run out of ideas and money. Now we see her last ditch attempt. She tries sneaking up on Jesus and reaching out a few desperate fingers of faith to touch Him, just to see what would happen.

I can be like her. Ashamed of what I struggle with, I sometimes fear being vulnerable with others. I can try to keep running and hope that my legs will carry me, knowing all the time that I need and want to be carried. On some occasions I am both stupidly proud and awkwardly stubborn. In these times, I can try to sneak up on Jesus from behind, quickly reaching out for a bit of healing whilst I think no-one is looking.

When this woman touched Jesus, He felt power leave him. He knew that He had healed someone. He knew that He had changed someone’s life. Forever. He couldn’t let that go. For her sake. He asked her to acknowledge herself, not to make her feel embarrassed, but to show the rest of the crowd a clean and whole person was now among them.

When Jesus is at work we need to be ready to reach out to Him, even if we can only manage to catch a bit of His robe. But He may ask us to acknowledge what He has done. He may even want us to admit that we needed some help in the first place. I pray today that you will have the faith to put out your hand to Him.
Healing and wholeness are at the end of those fingers.