When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."
Mark 5:27-28 How many times have you said, "If only"?
"If only things were different, life would be great."
"If only I had enough money, my life would be better."
"If only I had never dated this guy, my life would be different."
"If only I had this past year back."
Here is this lady; bleeding, bewildered at life, belittled by everyone, and bankrupt. And in her persistent attempts to get close to Jesus, she utters the words, "If only…" If only she could touch Jesus' clothes, she would be healed. She knew that even in His very clothes resided the power of heaven to radically change her life. You see, she had faith to believe.
Sometimes our "if only's" sound pretty selfish and feeble compared to this lady's request, don't they? Most of the time, they are wrought with insecurity, selfishness, and laziness. But this woman came to Jesus with an attitude of belief. With the right heart, you can approach the Lord with your "if only's" in life. He so desperately wants to give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). But realize that as we draw closer to Him and delight in Him, as we read the Word of God, and as we communicate with Him, our desires start to mold into His desires. Suddenly, the things that are most important to Him become the most important things to us. And instead of saying "if only..." for the sake of our old selfish desires, we begin offering up our requests by faith -- with His desires at heart.
So be bold in faith like this lady was, and reach out to Jesus, telling Him all of your pains and passions. He wants to radically change your life as well. Don't give Him feeble genie-like wishes; request the pure and noble desires of your heart. Go to Him with an unselfish and unpretentious spirit. Then see His power unleashed in your life. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). |
