Desperation

If this is something I have experienced, then it must be something common to all mankind.  Whatever your situation and/or problem, you can become desperate.  From the desire for children to finding someone special, from looking for employment to trying to get ahead, the opportunities for desperation are abundant!  For me, I get a bit down in the mouth these days over my unemployment, the desire to be accepted, to just have peace in my life and of course - - - wouldn't a car be incredible helpful!?!?!?!?  Yeah, a bit shallow, unless you lack all of these in your life, then you realize that life is more than just a bit of a challenge.

Mark 5:25-34

A familiar tale: Jesus is on His way to heal a 12 year old girl, then a woman pops up in the crowd and touches his robe in her search for healing ...

Do Not Let Your Problem Define You
The woman had defined herself with her problem.  Culturally, that is reasonably!
Both the woman and the girl both needed Jesus' touch and healing.
Both were healed.
Young and old the same.
Jesus defines us as HIS, that is why he came, to redefine us.

Stop Looking In The Wrong Places
The woman did things her way with no results for 12 years.
She spent all of her money seeking a cure:

• Drink wine an onion was boiled in
• Sit at a cross-road
• Eat the barley from the dung of a white donkey
• Use clay to seal the site of the bleeding
• Be frightened and ordered to stop bleeding

These First Century AD "cures" for uncontrollable bleeding or course are bogus but never let it be said that the doctors did not charge her the best they could!  I am sure some of the doctors had the best of intentions and did their best help her.  But, what she really needed was Jesus.

Overcome Your Excuses
The woman, because of her problem, was prohibited from being in villages, around other Jews, she was unclean!
She broke tradition and culture by going into a crowd, by approaching a man, by touching a rabbi!
She made no excuses for herself.

Know You Are Saved/Healed By Faith Alone
Faith opens closed doors
Faith shows persistence
Faith is demonstrated by action
Her action brought her salvation
Conversely, action without faith will bring no salvation

In the end, my desperation, my despair, is about my personal faith issue - my eyes are on me not God.
I want to do things my way, not God's (darn pride!).
I have to sit back, my eyes on God, my hope in God, in faith knowing He will redeem me and set as it should be.