hope restored – a mom’s story
“43And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. Luke 8
Many times during the course of talking with people about EHE, the question comes up about how we handle sharing the Good News of Jesus with others in word. Day after day we get to bring evidence through our actions, however there are those times when the verbal expression needs to be made of all that The Gospel of Jesus means.
However, we are restricted by the law in our ability as an organization from engaging in religious activity. So, we walk a line of abiding by the law of the land while also being faithful to God. At times it can be tricky.
But, then there are those times when we just step back and God takes the lead and we get to watch in amazement at what He brings to pass in front of our eyes.
This happened a few weeks ago when we were having a basic health screening for the moms.
One of the moms started to open up and talk about how she has been bleeding for the past 2 years. Her menstruation returned after having her child, but it has not stopped except for a few days of reprieve here and there. She is in a desperate situation.
Here, it is not only a matter of bleeding, but with that comes the incapacity to fulfill her religious duties. As an Orthodox person, she would not be permitted to enter the church while she is menstruating – a law that follows Leviticus 15:25 –
‘When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period.”
On top of this she had been to three doctors who had told her that her case was hopeless. There was nothing that could be done for her. She was facing a future of constant bleeding and being an outsider for the rest of her life – or until the bleeding stopped.
After she was done speaking, I felt Jesus nudge me to share about a different woman from a different time, but in a very similar situation whom He addressed compassionately with an act of mercy and restoration. A woman who was without hope, who had been bleeding for 12 years, yet whom was not only healed, but restored relationally on that day – to her Creator as well as her community.
So, I shared with her about this woman and about Jesus’ encounter with her, and then we had a couple of minutes to pray for healing for her and we promised to follow up with her.
Within a week or so we referred her to a local hospital full of people whom we trust to receive a checkup. The Doctor there told her that what she has is very treatable and he put her on medication for the next 3 months and then he will follow up with her.
This time someone could help. This time it was not a cold shoulder or yet another rejection. This time was different.
Again, she was full of hope. And, God had planted seeds about who He is and His gifts of mercy and compassion…even when we have been told over and over again that the case is hopeless.
Please join us in praying for this Mom. Pray for God’s intervention in her life and that she would encounter Jesus through this, much like that woman without hope from almost 2,000 years ago.