Not as the World Gives

‘Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.’ Luke 8:43-44 

Hello,

It’s the end of the week. My week went well, I hope yours did too.

There is a scene in my book where the protagonist steps up and hugs Jesus Christ’s retreating figure. As she hugs him, she feels overwhelming peace. Peace that disregards her situation, which seems dire. It ignored everything in her environment, not as though they didn’t exist, but as the calm in the storm. She held on to Him, knowing that in doing so, she could scale through her problems, and find rest.

I wonder if that was how the woman with the flow of blood felt. A twelve-year problem, with no solution anywhere, even money had not helped. The Lord seemed to be her only hope, her healing, her peace, her well-being. She had tried everything else and failed, so why not? What was there to lose? She didn’t pick up His garment, she just touched it, and instantly healing came. Peace and well-being were hers the instant she touched Him in faith. Not as the world gives or does.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 

Did you notice that others were touching Him too, praying, and asking for help? She touched, and she went away healed. Peter looked at him and walked on water. It took faith, lack of doubt, and no fear, till he looked down. 

As we retire for the weekend, may we find rest in Him like the faith-filled woman. His light will continue to shine, and the darkness will never comprehend or stop it. His peace is not like the world’s, neither are His grace and mercy; His ways are not our ways, they are higher. So, I will not try to analyze or debate it, I accept it wholeheartedly. I intend to crawl into the cleft of the rock that is higher than I am, His rest is what I seek. 

In my book, Jesus asked the protagonist a question, “Are you not tired?”

Word of advice: don’t look down.

Till next time, be transformed!!