There are moments in life when our need for God becomes greater than our fear, pride, or comfort. It's in these moments that we take a step out of our comfort zone, put down our pride, and stop saying we can do it on our own.
In Luke 8, we read about a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years. She’d tried everything, spending all her money on doctors, yet remaining isolated, invisible, unworthy, unclean, and unable to worship freely. But in one moment of bold faith, she reached for Jesus, touched the edge of His garment, and everything changed.
God doesn't respond to the casual but to the committed, not to the indifferent but to the intimate, not to the complacent but to the desperate. When Jesus encountered the woman, He was on His way to heal Jairus' daughter. There was a huge crowd and everyone was pressing Him, but only one woman was desperate in her faith which resulted in a pull on His power. Jesus knew the difference and looked for the person who reached out in faith.
There's a profound difference between being around the things of God and fully reaching for His presence, between proximity and desperation, between routine and reaching, between brushing past and clinging on. You can go to church, attend youth group, read your Bible, and post verses on Instagram, but if your heart isn't actually postured to seek and reach for Jesus, you're just part of the crowd.
Think about your relationship with your earthly father. There are casual interactions - a quick fist bump or superficial conversation about your day or your plans. These are familiar, casual, and convenient for you. But do you remember when you were a kid and wiped out badly on your bike? At that moment, you didn't casually ask for a band-aid. You screamed because you needed your father. That cry wasn't polished or planned - it was raw, real, and desperate.
A good father doesn't just toss you a bandage from the porch. He runs to you, holds you, embraces you, calms you down, and cleans your wounds. That's exactly what our heavenly Father does. He doesn't stand on the porch of heaven when life gets rocky. He comes to you, calms you, and heals you when you cry out.
When you cling to Jesus, you begin a relationship with Him. Once He heals you, He leaves medicine inside of you to heal others. If you don't heal from what hurts you, you'll start bleeding on people who never even cut you. As you cling to Jesus, you begin a history with Jesus. When you pass a test in private, your relationship with Jesus deepens. When you win challenges that try to destroy you, you are proven. As you win in these areas, God gives you authority and anointing. The anointing is a slow drip - you don't get covered right away. It's like sitting under a dripping sink versus a shower, building your relationship with God one day at a time. As the anointing increases, you start leaving oil everywhere you go and that’s the medicine that helps others.
A few examples from the Bible of desperate faith include:
- The Woman with the Issue of Blood (Luke 8:43-44) - She knew that all she needed was to touch even the fringe of Jesus' garment. She had faith, courage, and desperation.
- The Jailer (Acts 16:26-30) - His moment of desperation didn't just save him - it saved his household and created a legacy for his family, having a generational impact.
- The Paralyzed Man (Mark 2) - Four friends carried a paralyzed man to Jesus. When they couldn't get through the crowd, they removed the roof and lowered him down. Jesus not only healed him but forgave his sins and empowered him.
All these stories follow a pattern: 1) Desperation, 2) Faith, and 3) Encounter. Understand that when you encounter Jesus:
- He is Present - He's not far off or a distant deity. He is God with us. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." He feels you, sees you and hears you. He's close to you in your darkest moments, even when everyone else has left.
- He is Powerful - In Luke 8:46, Jesus said, "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me." He has authority and glory. To be a vessel of the glory of God, you must pursue your cross - dying to yourself and your worldly desires. Romans 8:11 reminds us that "the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you."
- He is Personal - Jesus didn't just heal the woman. He turned to her, saw her, and spoke to her. He called her "daughter" - the only time in the Gospels where Jesus refers to someone this way. He gave her identity, dignity, peace, and a new name. He knows your story, your wounds, your shame - everything you've done, even things you haven't told anyone, yet He still calls you His own.
Where are you right now? Are you part of the crowd just brushing past Jesus, being close enough to feel good but never close enough to be changed? Or are you reaching out to Him in desperation? Jesus is still walking through the crowd today, waiting for someone to tug on His power. He's knocking at the door, patiently waiting for you to open it. He stops for the desperate but He won’t barge in. He is present, powerful and personal. Open the door. One touch from Him literally will change everything. He is here for you and ready to respond to your faith.
