GOT ISSUES?

There is a story about a woman in the bible who had an ailment. She suffered twelve long years with this condition that was described as an issue of blood; it was called a plague in some instances.

However, the account goes on to say that this woman suffered many things of many physicians. No doubt, some may have scammed her and sold her things they knew wouldn’t help because they knew of her desperation to be healed.

As long as she had money, they kept feeding her solutions that had no redeeming value. She could find no cure. Eventually, she spent out; she was broke and nothing about her situation had gotten any better.

She was at the end of her rope, hanging onto the knot at the end and losing her grip.

Then, she heard that this Jesus was going to be in the area. She decided she needed to get to Him at any cost. It sounds to me like not only was she ill, but she had some issues.

If we are honest, we all have some kind of issues. Mine might not resemble yours or it may look like a carbon copy of yours.

Our issues have a lot of influence over how we live our lives, and for the record – women are not the only ones with issues. Men have issues, too, they don’t get a pass. No one is exempt. An issue is no respecter of persons and an issue, is an issue, is an issue, and all God’s children got issues. But thanks be unto God, He is the issue solver.

Like the woman in the story, we have to get to the one who can give us the relief we need from those weights that are besetting us. His name is Jesus, and in Him, is everything we need. He is our peace, our joy. He’s a refuge and a strong tower. This woman had the same issue for 12 tiring years.

How long have you been dealing with your issues? How long has somebody else had to put up with them? Maybe, also like the woman we have had times when some folk took advantage of our vulnerabilities.

We have to be the one to go after change. We have to break the cycles of our recurring issues; we have to declare an end to the generational curses of our families’ issues; we must seek to break those traditions of our churches that are not based upon biblical principles; we must affect change of the ills affecting our communities.

What I admire about this woman with the issue is:

• She was proactive. She didn’t sit around waiting for someone else to take her to Jesus. She didn't need anyone to talk her into / against making a move. She went after Him on her own and with a vengeance.

• She was persistent. She didn’t take no for an answer to her needs; defeat was not an option. She didn’t get abrupt or abrasive, she just went to her plan B when plan A failed.

• She pressed her way. She may have preferred to waltz in with her dignity in tact, but she was determined to get to Him anyway she could - crawling was not beneath her to make it to her destiny. Not even her unclean status deterred her.

I wonder how many others in the crowd that day had issues that they came there with and they also left with because they needed a touch, but kept silent.

I wonder how many missed out because they didn’t have the faith to believe or the courage to ask, because they were worried about what their friends would think, or who might have something to say about them, so they didn’t make a move toward Jesus?

We have not because we ask not, but if we ask, believing, we shall receive what we ask. He’ll do it for us. He said to trust Him and try Him, prove Him and see if He won’t pour us out a blessing we cannot even handle.

Perhaps you’ve already tried all you know, you have exhausted your means and still your efforts have come short of the mark. You still have your issue. Perhaps it’s yet a problem for you and seems insurmountable.

Good news - Jesus is still the issue eradicator.

He is still the answer to whatever the problem is. He’s hope in a seemingly hopeless situation; He is joy for our sad days and strength for our weak moments. He is the balm in Gilead that can still heal a sin sick soul.

He can fix it – whatever it is.

If our issues are physical, He can make us whole. He paid our health premiums for life on Calvary.

If our issues are emotional, He can alleviate all strain and stress, He can mend a broken heart.

If it’s spiritual, He can calm a tormented soul, cast out demons and fill us with his Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the ultimate issue solver. In Him, we find compassion.

He is love, He is forgiveness, He is power. In Him is no failure, but we’ll find sweet victory and have life everlasting.

Remember - if you’re plagued by an issue, the solution is to get closer to Jesus.

One touch from the master will fix it for you.