Numbing the connection to our feelings of self-worth and status with our busyness can be a way of avoiding the pain and discomfort that endlessly circle our thoughts. We’re so afraid that if we stop moving and pause for just a moment, the issues that we’ve tried to keep hidden will be exposed for all to see. But what if in our hopelessness we dared to reach out to Jesus? What if we were able to brush the hem of Jesus’ garment with our faith, causing Him to stop? What if His flow of blood could mend our broken hearts and heal our wounds so we could live our lives wholeheartedly for Him? 

In Luke 8:43-48 we find the woman’s story with the flow of blood who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was instantly healed. For twelve years she had been rendered ceremonially unclean because the flow of blood hadn’t stopped. Probably divorced, or possibly never married, this woman was classed as insignificant to the rest of the Jewish society. An outcast that could not be touched or be touched because of the flow.  

‘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 boarder of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter, and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”  

Jesus stopped which caused this woman’s flow of blood to stop. He recognised her desperate need for closeness, connection, and communion that she’d been denied for twelve years because of her “issues”. Jesus was on his way to Jairus’ house to heal his twelve-year-old daughter who was dying. He was busy, hard-pressed for time, the crowd surrounded Him. Surly He needed to keep going, to keep moving? However, He knew someone’s vulnerability, someone’s need for communion needed His time and compassion. Someone’s flow of blood that had caused them so much pain and discomfort for many years needed Him to stop and take notice. He felt His power flow out of Him, and it dried up this woman’s blood trail that had followed behind her. 

Simone Weil said that “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity” and it’s so true. We’re not used to someone being fully present and stopping to help us when we’ve felt so unclean from our shame and unworthiness for so many years. Everyone seems so busy and we’re too afraid to reach out because if we actually feel the genuine connection and communion, it could expose all our “issues”. 

We need to understand that the process of our restoration can only start when we choose to stop numbing our shameful pasts with busyness and allow the scars found in Jesus’ hands and feet to dry up the flow of blood which has followed us. The blood trail of brokenness that has flowed behind for so long can be healed in the redeeming blood trail Jesus left at the cross, helping us to become whole again. The woman’s flow of blood caused her to reach out her hand and touch the hem of Jesus’ garment because she longed for the closeness, connection, and communion that Jesus was offering. 

Perhaps if we just stopped for a moment in all our busyness and reached out our hand and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, we would feel the flow of blood that Jesus poured out for us on the cross. The blood that has the power to heal us. Jesus has always been willing to stop and have a connection with you, regardless of all the “issues” that you have tried to keep hidden within your busyness. He wants you to stop in your endless activities and actively seek Him. Taking communion regularly helps us to stop, pause, to reflect and understand that it’s in His flow of blood we can find the closeness, connection, and communion we’re so afraid of feeling. 

But it’s only His redemption flow of blood that can dry up the blood trail of our wounds and brokenness that flows behind us and has the power to redeem and restore us and make us whole. We just need to be brave enough to reach out our hands and touch the hem of His garment. 

Wendy xo 

Are you afraid that if you stopped for just a moment in your busyness your issues will become exposed? 

I pray today, that Jesus’ flow of redemptive blood will dry up the blood trail that has been caused by your wounding and help heal you from your pain. Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy that Jesus hasn’t time for your needs. Jesus never abandoned you, He is always willing to stop and heal you. I pray you’ll allow yourself to stop, feel and reach out. Touch the hem of Jesus’ garment today and you will find that closeness, connection, and communion you’ve been denied for so long. Amen.