I don’t know about you, but I don’t like it when my plans are hijacked by someone else. A week in advance, my husband Miguel and I made plans to go garden and grocery shopping on a Thursday evening. In contrast, my oldest daughter, Dionne, had previously planned a trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, to attend a concert and was leaving on Thursday (the same day as my shopping trip) but had not made any plans yet on how she would get to the airport.
On several occasions, I asked Dionne how she intended to get to the airport. Each time she indicated that she did not know and appeared to be more focused on what she would do while in Vancouver. I told myself that it was not my problem and went about my business.
On Wednesday evening, the day before Dionne was to leave on her trip, she still did not know how she would get to the airport. I even commented to Miguel, “These children like to leave things for the last minute, unlike us.”
To my surprise, at noon on Thursday, I received a text from Miguel, indicating that Dionne had asked him for a ride to the airport that evening. He did not know if we would have enough time to go shopping.
Desperate Faith
What! He agreed to drive her to the airport without checking with me first, knowing that we had made plans. I was not impressed. Just like that, my plans were dashed aside because Dionne needed a ride. She had other options that she could have considered, like one of her siblings or her children. Why did I have to be the one who was inconvenienced?
Then I remembered Jesus. Wherever He went, a crowd followed Him, seeking healing from some physical or mental ailment. In Luke 8:40–42, 49–56, the story is told of a man named Jairus, a high-ranking official at the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to go to his house because his twelve-year-old daughter, an only child, was dying.
As Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ home, the crowd was thick around Him, pressing in from all sides. Then came an interruption.
You see, there was this woman who had a chronic medical issue. She had been bleeding for twelve years and had spent all her money going to various doctors with no relief. Imagine being doubled over in pain for what seemed like forever, being unable to find gainful employment because of her condition, and being treated like an outcast since she was unclean. She also probably had a stench about her. She too had heard about Jesus, and in her desperation for healing, she squeezed through the crowd. While the doctors had failed her, she knew that Jesus never failed.
The woman told herself: “If only I could touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed.”
What desperate faith! At last, her shaking hand reached down and came in contact with the border of Jesus’ cloak; immediately, her flow of blood stopped. Talk about instant healing!
The woman thought she was inconspicuous and tried to disappear into the throng the same way she appeared. Jesus stopped in His tracks, however, and said, “Who touched Me?” (Luke 8:45). The disciples quickly reasoned that Jesus was imagining things. Given that so many people were around, several were likely to bump into Him. Even so, Jesus insisted that somebody touched Him because He perceived power going out from Him.
Bible Promise: Your Faith Has Made You Well
Busted! The woman was so nervous that she trembled before Jesus and fell down at His feet, confessing that she had touched Him and that she had been healed instantly from her malady. Jesus told her: “Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48). She no longer felt like a nobody. Instead, she had worth because Jesus had called her “daughter.”
Notice the contrast between my reaction to the “interruption” and how Jesus responded to the woman who interrupted Him. As I reflected on this, I realized that Jesus was never bothered when people sought Him. He did not worry about His plans because He was always about His Father’s business. Jesus made Himself available to meet the needs of others.
On the other hand, I judged my daughter because she did not plan in advance, and I resented my husband for not consulting with me before he agreed to drive her to the airport. Nevertheless, the next day everything was completed. We not only dropped her off at the airport but also went to the store and got everything we needed, including some great deals on garden plants.
Follow Jesus' Example
The Bible admonishes us to follow Jesus’ example and not look to each other. In my sinful nature, my focus was on “me.” Jesus always focused on “others,” and He met them at their point of need.
“Lord, help me to be more like You and put the needs of others before my own. Lead me not to miss another opportunity to be a blessing, even in my own family.” An interruption in life is an opportunity to glorify Him.
By the way, while dealing with the woman, someone came from Jairus’ house to tell him that his daughter had died and that he had no need to bother Jesus anymore. When Jesus heard what was said, He responded, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well” (Luke 8:50).
When Jesus finally arrived at the house, people were weeping and mourning, and He told them the child was just sleeping. After He sent the others out of the house, Jesus held her hand and told her: “Little girl, arise” (Luke 8:54). Her eyes opened, and she was in perfect health. Everyone present was in awe.
Call to Action
Isn’t Jesus amazing? The next time you are “interrupted,” seize the opportunity to assist the individual. When you help that person, you are doing it for Jesus (see Matthew 25:34–40). Then watch Him do something life-changing. Even if what you accomplish is a seemingly small thing, it will have a big impact because little is much when God is in it. Jesus will work out something special.
All scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
