Read: Mark 5:25–34
Imagine over a decade of pain, doctor visits, false hope, and disappointment. There was a woman in the Bible who had lived like this for twelve years. She spent everything she had, spared no resource, but nothing worked. Her illness hadn’t just caused physical pain—it was an emotional burden, too. After such a long time of suffering, the people around her had to have grown tired of her complaints.
We do the same. We grow impatient with ongoing struggles. We avoid certain people because we’re not sure we have the energy for one more heavy conversation. Sometimes we even roll our eyes, thinking to ourselves, “Oh, it’s her again. I hope she doesn’t bring that up.”
But Jesus' response to this woman is humbling. When she reached out and touched His robe, Jesus paused. But not because he was trying to figure out who touched him. He knew it was the woman, and he intentionally stopped to tell her that she wasn’t invisible, annoying, too much. He saw her faith and her persistence, and in front of the gathered crowd he called her “daughter.”
If you feel like a burden, come to Jesus anyway. He never gets tired of your needs, and he doesn’t grow weary of your prayers. He’s not waiting for you to get it together before he responds.
He can also equip us with the same kind of patience with the pain of others. Ask him for grace, for the sensitivity to listen, support, and encourage when someone opens up to you about what they’re going through. You may be the only support they have, and it’s a crucial opportunity to show the love of Jesus.