He touched her hand, and the fever left her… and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.
It is very hard being in a place of sickness or oppression. It’s painful and grinding to the soul to live in a place consumed by illness or pressed down or controlled by depression, fear, anger, lust, or bitterness. These places of desperation often leave us with no hope. No hope of recovery; no hope of freedom; no hope of a new tomorrow.
In steps Jesus.
The ease with which Jesus heals and frees is a little mind-blowing. We see in Scripture times where Jesus heals and frees, and it’s effortless. We see in Matthew 8 that Jesus heals with a simple touch and frees with a single word, and that these simple actions of life-altering grace were made available to all who were sick.
We read this and it either injects us with hope, or it causes us to wonder, “when will my touch come?” “When will the word be spoken over me?”
We do not know the story of each person in Matthew 8. We do not know how long they struggled. We know from the stories of other healings of Jesus that some people waited years to receive the touch or the word from Jesus.
Why does He make us wait? Why does a simple touch or a simple word delay for what seems like so very long? When will salvation come?
The resurrecting power of Jesus Christ has come. He has been made available to the world; He is Immanuel, God with us today. Honestly, I cannot explain why we have to wait. My wife and I have had to wait for God for what seems like a very long time. Sometimes I just do not understand, but I still hold onto Him as He holds onto me.
I know that God’s timing always ends up perfect. I also know that the story that God is writing doesn’t always make sense to us with our earth-tied perspective. I also know He cares. I know that He does heal and free.
The hard part seems to be trusting Him. The easy part is healing and freeing.
Lord, help us trust; help us to wait.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to take a deep breath and wait. Perhaps the step that He wants you to take is to take the uphill step of trust. Maybe He is stepping toward you today. Perhaps He is taking the step of healing and freeing you today. Just receive.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
Need prayer? We are happy to pray for you (ask for prayer here).
sign up just below for a daily reminder of the one step devotional. click here to return to devotional list.
*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 191-196, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 8:5-12) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).