For the Unworthy Daughters
For twelve years, or perhaps even more, she is
worthless
dirty
unloved
damaged.
All the money she had did not fix her brokenness,
The doctors could not make her clean.
Clothed in shame, unwanted, untouched,
her clandestine mission is to reach the Son.
This nameless pariah, this insignificant crowd member,
risks life to brush His robe.
Power escapes Him and she is made clean.
No longer able to hide, she trembles at his feet.
The plan to slip out unnoticed is foiled by His desire to make her known.
In the presence of all these men He calls her
Daughter.
The woman nobody wanted, He called precious.
The woman nobody touched, He embraced.
The woman nobody saw, He brought into the light.
I pray that we taste and see this compassion and love.
When we are unwanted, He calls us precious.
When we are untouched, He embraces us.
When we are unseen, His eyes meet our gaze.
In faith, let us reach out to the Everlasting Arms that are waiting to bring us life.
The story of the woman with the issue of blood is probably my favorite story in the Bible. Like many other times, when I read a particular scripture, the words jump out of the page like never before. The Spirit captivates me to behold this story every time I read it. This story is in all of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48), which adds to the importance of this unnamed woman. It is also right in the middle of frantic Jairus seeking Jesus to heal his daughter. Oh, such beautiful words throughout this story that I can relate to.
This woman was more than a social outcast. By law, because of her constant bleeding, she was declared ceremonially unclean. She was untouchable, undesirable, persona non grata, a complete pariah. She could not enter the temple to worship, nor could she marry. For twelve years, this woman suffered not only constant menstrual flow but also constant rejection. Not even those in her own family could touch her.
The poem above was one of my submissions for the liturgy portion of my writing class through The Austin Stone Church. When assigned to write a liturgy for a specific group of people (as opposed to a whole congregation), I knew I wanted to write for women like this particular outcast. I felt like I could relate to this woman whom Jesus called Daughter.
My story is different from hers, but I draw strength from her great act of faith and Christ’s perfect love for her, which God has put into not just one book of the Bible but three. I believe the Bible is God’s inerrant, inspired word. Therefore, I think there is importance in this brief story of an unnamed woman, which is written three times right in the middle of Jairus calling Jesus to come to heal his dying daughter. The healing of Jairus’ daughter was important. All the disciples were trying to move Jesus along through the crowd to get to this miraculous act. But this seemingly insignificant brush of His robe was an important, miraculous story of a woman’s faith and Jesus’ ability to heal. So we pause in the middle of one story to be encouraged in another.
What faith she had to go out amongst the crowd and risk touching others who knew she was, by law, unclean1. What faith she had to keep seeking out doctor after doctor. What faith she had to continue steadfast in her quest to find a cure2. What faith to say to herself, “If I could just touch his robe3.” What faith she had to fall to her knees trembling before Jesus when He asked who touched him!4
I am not trying to compare my story directly to the story of this great woman, but the similarities bring me great encouragement to press on in my suffering. I was in a deep, vicious cycle of depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation for almost 12 years. I still have battles with depression; I have had struggles as recently as yesterday! But I did reach out to Jesus when I had no more money to treat my illness, when I had reached the end of my strength when I had exhausted all avenues of treatment, and when I couldn’t take any more doctors’ opinions. He was there. He was there and is still here, and it is my joy and honor to write about it not just today, but every day the Lord gives me.
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3 ESV
My circumstances are simply my circumstances, but by the grace of God, I now have a perspective that He is with me and will continue to be with me through turbulent waters, raging rivers, and furious fires. He saw a faithful woman who didn’t have a name and called her Daughter. He called her by name, and she became His. I have faith that I am also His daughter.
So what happened to this Daughter? Jesus told her to take heart5, that she was made well6, and to go in peace7. When Jesus suffered and died on the cross and said it is finished, he told everyone who believes in him to take heart, they are made well, and to go in peace. Does that mean suffering is over? No. But it does mean that it is not in vain. Praise God!
Heavenly Father, I pray that other suffering women, by faith, will seek out Your mercy, grace, and compassion. I pray they be overjoyed in their suffering because You gave Your Son so that You may now call them Daughter. Thank you for calling us by name and making us Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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