I Understood the Assignment: My Issue with Blood

It is physically and mentally draining wrapping your head around the “why’s” of your body. Why does it do what it does, why sudden back aches and muscle spasms occur? Why do you have to deal with a certain diagnosis? For the woman with the issue of blood in the Bible, I’m sure the weight of the ‘why’ was heavy on her. Why was she suffering for 12 years? Why after numerous doctors and herbal remedies was she getting worse? Why did she have to be removed and isolated from people ( because she was deemed “unclean”)? In my mind, I picture this woman as a person who was struggling with fibroids, endometriosis or PCOS who had enough of the why’s of her body and was desperate to be healed. I pictured her this way because I felt like she was ME needing (not wanting) to be healed. In Matthew 9:21(NIV) : She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” I understood her assignment! For years, but more specifically over the last 3 years, I dealt with the pain and suffering of fibroids. The heart palpitations , exhaustion just from walking up a flight of stairs, altering my work schedule and social outings to accommodate my issue of blood, complications with fertility — this eventually led me to be severely anemic and needed a blood and iron transfusion back in July. When I recognized my body was flirting with death, I too was desperate for answers and a cure.

He knows my name

I always found it fascinating how this popular story of “the woman with the issue of blood” did not disclose the details of what her name was or the type of condition she had. To me, the symbolization of this was two fold. That anybody, man or woman, who has a story of desperation and faith could relate for the longing to be healed. It also illustrated to me that there are many women across the world today who are going or have gone through an issue of blood as I, and that I was not alone. The story goes that once this woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she was instantly freed from her issue of blood and Jesus asked who touched me? I know Jesus knew who it was, but I think he was asking her to be courageous enough to come forward in a crowd she should not have been in due to her condition. For people around her to hear her testimony and to know what He had done for her. It challenged me to do the same. To let the world know I have the same scar, as many other women, who have what I call “the scar of desperation” on their abdomen after having myomectomy (like me) or a hysterectomy for the removal of fibroids. To let the world know that he gave me another chance at life when I was at risk of heart failure. Even though this woman in the Bible was not given a name, God knows our name. He knows our situations and how desperate we are to be healed in different areas of our lives. He claims us as His children for in Mark 5:34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering. But we have to continue to advocate for ourselves to be healed. What does that mean? Ask the questions that need to be asked even when it’s uncomfortable , pray that prayer, adjust your level of faith, take serious the assignment God has given you and remember whose you are! There’s a song by Tasha Cobb that resonates to me when I think of how I am now free from that pain of suffering I have endured over the years that sings, 

Yes, he knows my name

And oh, how he walks with me

Yes oh, how he talks with me

And oh how he tells me

That I am his own…

(The song later says) 

Now I’m walking in your victory

Cause your power it lives within me

No giant can defeat me

You hold my hand

Continue to be desperate for God. Your healing is coming and in the end His Glory will be exalted.