Be Strong and Courageous 2 - Lads to Leaders
Be Strong and Courageous
Imagine having an incurable disease for over a decade. During this time, you have spent
all of the money you have to cure your disease but it has only grown worse. Not only do people
look down on you because you are poor and sick, but because of your disease you have become
an outcast of society. Your disease makes you unclean and everything you touch will become
unclean as well. You can no longer go out into public for the fear of being driven from the city
because of your uncleanliness. As it becomes clear that nothing can be done to rid you of this
agony, you begin to lose hope. Days and months and years go by with no change other than the
further loss of strength and hope. Until one day you hear that a man is coming to your town who
is rumored to heal the blind and lepers. It has been said that he has made the lame walk and he
has turned water into wine. If he has done such great things, surely he can cleanse you! However,
so many doctors and magicians have come claiming the same thing and no one has been able to
heal you. There is a tiny sliver of hope inside you that tells you that maybe this man will be
different. Maybe he truly can heal the incurable and can rid you of your suffering. It takes all of
your strength and all of your courage to get up and decide to take this leap of faith. “What more
do I have to lose?” You have no money, no family, no friends, no strength, and no hope. As you
walk out of your door you hide your face so that others will not recognize you and will not
shame you as you walk to find this healer that you have heard of. You see a big crowd in the
streets and in the midst of it all you see a man. He is surrounded by multitudes of people and is
following one of your town officials who is also seeking the healing of this man. “How can I be
of more importance than a city official?” The multitude begins to walk in your direction and you
frantically try to decide what to do. Your desperation has led you here and you have come so far
for this healing. It takes every ounce of courage that you have to reach out your hand and touch
the tiniest corner of the man's cloak. Instantly, you can feel that you have finally been healed!
Your strength returns to you and you no longer feel the constant pain that you have become so
accustomed to. In the midst of all these people the man stops and turns around. “Who touched
me?” he asked. You begin to fill with fear because you know he surely will reprimand you for
being in such a place and daring to touch him. You run to his feet and bow down so maybe he
will show you mercy. However, he instantly finds your eyes and says, “Your faith has healed
you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
This story is found in Mark 5:25-34. Most people know this person as the woman with
the issue of blood. While she only gets nine verses in such a miraculous book, her story is
defined by faith and strength. In Leviticus 15:25-30, Moses lists the laws that are targeted toward
women who have an issue of blood. It is extremely hard to imagine what this woman was going
through. She had lost all hope and strength in God and in herself. However that day she took the
biggest leap of faith in her life and it rewarded her greatly. Joshua 9:1 says, “Have I not
commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for
the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Every person has struggles and uncertainties in
their life. The most important thing to remember is, God will never leave his children and He
will always provide for them in His own time and in His own way. When you put your strength
and trust in God, He will always provide for you.