I have issues, okay? And if we’re all going to be totally honest, every person reading this could testify to personal issues as well.
Sometimes they lie buried, unnoticed for years and years. We may feel a slight inkling of them from time to time, but we become very adept at pushing our issues down until we forget about them temporarily. They are still there, though.
The reality is that my “issues” make me feel bad. They remind me that I’m not perfect–far from it. They highlight my shame, my iniquities.
We are all born with issues, whether they are easily seen by others or not. The question is, how do we deal with these unwanted companions?
There is only One who can take away the issues that threaten to break us, and He’s been doing it since He came to dwell among us.
“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” Luke 8:43-48 (KJV)
Friends, you know He loves you just as much as He loved this woman. If you have an issue that is draining the life from you, fall at His feet and clutch His garment. Don’t think that He’s too busy, that there are too many others who need Him. Just as He felt the woman in the crowd of people pushing in on Him, He knows you. He sees you. Don’t let Him pass you by! Feel the very life and healing of Jesus flow from His form to yours.
One time, I had a particulary troubling issue that absolutely plagued me for weeks. The Lord led me to this scripture and it seemed like He put my name on the page.
And Paige, having the issue of ___________ for some time, which had spent all of her living/energy/emotion/time upon solutions, neither could be healed of any, came behind him and clutched the hem of his garment, and immediately her issue stopped.
Try it. Put your name there. Make it even more personal, and put your issue there, however messy and ugly it may be. Don’t let this problem continue to drain the life from you.
Your Savior is passing by! He is always near! Grab hold of His garment, and feel His power today! Take a listen, sing along, and reach out.
photo from ecopreacher.blogspot.com
My Story, My Song 
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Beautifully written, and oh, so useful to each and every one of us. I am sure there are those who will read and think of someone ELSE they should send this to, but hopefully all will see the need for it in their OWN lives. “Oh Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry.” God bless you. Surely He will not pass YOU by.
Thank you so much Tony.
Ahhh chills my dear Paige… I love the idea of making it personal… ♥
Thanks so much Heather! He’s a personal Savior!
Very good! Very sincere and relatable. Definitely encouraging and uplifting!
Vert timely for me. I have a long list of items to fill in the blank – one at a time. He is our courage and help and wisdom and love for every life issue. Love these words and hope this song is stuck in my head all day!
🙂
Love this one, dear friend, and this reminder was so very needed. Thank you!
Love this song Paige “Do Not Pass Me By.” This is such a powerful message as we head into advent. To start the season new and afresh.
Thank you for sharing! 🙂
~Carl~
Thanks Carl. Trusting you and yours will have a wonderful season.
Thanks Paige. You too! 🙂
Thanks Paige. Excellent. The painting in your post, however, does not illustrate what the woman was actually reaching for and touching. There is a powerful significance to that story, and one can gain a much better understanding of the possible causes of the woman’s “issue” and her knowledge of what to finally do about it when she got serious with the Lord. It is reflected in the following passage:
The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God.” [Numbers 15:37-41]
Happy Thanksgiving!
The only solution for gnarled complex issues – “He shall save his people from their sins”… and debilitating issues.