Shortly after coming to Christ, I had a knock-down, drag out, face to face battle with fear.  It bubbled up from a place of complete desperation.  I was nearly 20 years old and afraid of pretty much everything – the dark, staying at home alone, stray dogs as I walked around my neighborhood, and so on.

Throwing up a token prayer had glossed over the issue in the past, but now with my husband being deployed to a different state for military training that would last a couple weeks, I found myself completely alone and totally beside myself.

He had no sooner walked out the door with his duffle sack in hand than fear sauntered in, made himself comfortable, and quietly waited for nightfall.  I tucked myself in that first night LONG before dark and lay there paralyzed and immobile. I was resigned to my captivity.

A few hours into this, it became abundantly clear that I could not endure two more hours of this (much less two whole weeks)!  I slowly put my feet on the ground, got out of my bed, intentionally left the lights off in the house, and began to cry out loud for God to help me.

I marched up and down in my little house, my prayers increasingly getting more bold and my mind becoming more clear as I kept my focus on what God said in His Word.  I resisted fear openly, continually, vehemently all while throwing myself at the feet of Jesus.  This war lasted for hours.  I didn’t quit until I knew God had moved and I was free from fear.

Luke 8 recalls a story about another woman who also found herself in a complete state of raw desperation.  She had suffered from an affliction for 12 long years and had spent her entire life’s savings on doctors, hoping for a cure, but to no avail (vs. 43).  Word had reached her that Jesus was in town. 

As He was walking down the street, “…the crowds were nearly crushing Him.” (vs. 42)

This woman, weakened by her physical ailment and being jostled around by this massive crowd, desperately pressed in and successfully “…approached from behind and touched the end of His robe.” (vs. 44)  She was immediately healed and Jesus publicly acknowledged her faith.

Do you find yourself in a place of utter desperation right now? What has you paralyzed during this season?  What “affliction” have you been needlessly carrying that Jesus wants to help you with?  What voices in the dark or crushing crowds are holding you back from complete victory and freedom in Christ today?

Whatever it is, come to Him – openly, boldly, and desperately!  Let your hunger for freedom drive you to push through life’s distractions, all the white noise of this world, and the lie that your circumstances will never change!

Jesus came specifically to bring LIFE change – “…to bring good news…to heal…to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom…” (Isaiah 61:1)

He invites you to come today – desperate, hungry, without restraint.  Stay before Him until you have the freedom, healing, and deliverance He so graciously extends.  Hear Him say, like He did to that woman so long ago, “Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace.”

Until next time, Grace and Glory!