She struggled to not grumble, even though she’s fatigued and disheartened. Tired of merely looking down, drained from the misery, yearning for the days when she could stand tall, to look into someone’s eyes.
For eighteen long years, her only view was dirt and filthy feet. Dependent on others to her get through her day, to help her with the essentials of life.
Is this it? Is this all there is to life? Why her anyway, what did she do to deserve this? No one saw her, much less talked to her. She could hear their whispers and felt their stares as she shuffled in. Wondering what terrible sin she’d committed to be so punished. For 936 Sabbaths she’d made her way to synagogue, hoping today would be the day God heard her.
God, do you see me? Can you hear me?
Though she couldn’t see him his words pierced her heart. Not once in the eighteen years she’d been coming to Synagogue had she heard anyone teach Torah as this man. Could he be The One she’d heard so much about? There were rumors the long-awaited Messiah had come.
The room fell silent as He called her name, inviting her to come to him. She could feel all eyes on her as she stumbled through the crowd towards the voice. As she approached him, she concentrated on His feet when He declared, “Dear woman, you are healed!”
The most remarkable thing happened… he touched her. It felt like warm oil coursed through her as her body straightened. She’s captured by His beautiful brown eyes, filled with tenderness and affection. It’d been an immensely long time since she’d been face to face with anyone.
It’s true, He is the Messiah! Words of praise poured out of her, “He forgives my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies,” (Psalm 103:3–4 NLT).
Can you visualize her bouncing and dancing for joy? Laughing, praising, and maybe even skipping as she went her way?
Abuse has a way of bending you over, of choosing to not look anyone in the face. You may not imagine living any differently from what you are living today? It may appear as though everybody is against you.
BeLoved it may seem as if people are against you, it’s important to remind yourself that God is for you. The enemy will seize every opportunity to tell you you’re alone. You are not.
Jesus sees you stooped over by all the abuser has done to you… the treachery, the incessant battering of words, even turning friends against you with his lies, as he seeks to crush you and leave you with nothing and no one, not even your dignity.
God isn’t impervious to your trauma, even though it seems as though evil continues to win. Do you wonder when He will stop evil? I do. I know He will, I know evil doesn’t win. So what do we do when we can’t see Him move?
We accept His invitation to draw close, to lean into Him, to allow Him to be our strength.
Feel the warmth of His healing touch. You are a cherished daughter of the King, look into His beautiful brown eyes; see His tenderness and kindness for you, receive His words… Dear one, you can be healed.