Daily Devotionals

Mar 5:21-43, 21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.

I frequently grapple with going to God about specific necessities of mine when I take into consideration of others in more terrible situations than I am. Larger part of my petitions are indeed for others, but from time to time I feel compelled to pray for my personal needs, but it’s still a struggle.

About 2 days ago in prayers, I received a much-needed assurance from this passage. Jesus one day crossed again by boat to the other side. There met him a big gathering of sick, desperate, curious, doubters and we can add complainers. In this crowd two people are singled out with specific needs. One man, Jairus first approached Jesus in desperation for healing for his dying daughter, and the other is of a woman (name not given) needing healing of her issue of blood for 12 years. As He journeys with His disciples, the woman we perceive heard Jairus’ plea seized the moment to get a miracle for herself. She had faith to be healed if she touched the hem of His garment. It is possible that she was rooting for the girl to be healed, the one with greater need than hers. Perhaps that is why she was not trying to get attention to herself. She had lived with her condition for 12 years, that is since Jairus’ daughter was born for she was 12. One more day for the woman would not kill her as we would argue. She hoped Jesus would get to the little girl as soon as possible but while at it, get healing for herself. After Jesus stopped, having felt a touch, she received the attention she never craved, but that made the Lord delay in healing a dying girl she would have been blamed for.

The point is this, Jesus was not disappointed in her, in fact, He stopped to attend to her even more. Jesus also did not forget Jairus though his daughter died while He attended to the woman. These two cases encourage me to keep caring and praying for others who may have worse cases than mine, and that I should not stop praying for my own needs because the Lord cares for His people at different stages and levels.