Good Morning!

Good morning! I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything. Summer always comes and life gets crazy. I just dropped my youngest off at basketball camp, and have come home to a quiet house. I almost don't know what to do or where to begin. My parents have been here for a week and my nephew who has lived with us for 4 months left on the same day they did. It is very quiet. I think I will enjoy it while it lasts.

I have been feeling pretty good for the last week. Unfortunately that changed yesterday and am suffering from the burning stabbing pain in my ear, face and arm. So frustrating!!!! They started me on some new steroids for my eye and that seems to really help the redness and burning there, but all the rest it out of control. I will rest the next few days and hopefully it will subside.

Two weeks ago our pastor asked if he could pray for me. I of course said yes. He prayed specifically for areas I had pain. The next morning I awoke with no burning pain in my foot which has been a problem for months. We talked about the fact that we go to the doctor for many visits with hopes that they will heal us. He pointed out that going to the Father in prayer should be the same. I read this devotional this morning and it brought that conversation to my attention. I am so blessed to have so many people who I know are committed to pray for me. If any of you reading this are in need of prayer please let me know, I would be honored to pray for you.

Here is this devotional that I read this morning:

“A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (Mark 5:24b-29)



I’ve been thinking a lot about the verse above lately. This poor woman, frail and weak from blood loss, pressing through a huge crowd to get to Jesus. We can be fairly certain that this woman suffered from anemia from her chronic blood loss. As someone who has suffered anemia I can tell you that she likely endured terrible physical exhaustion, racing heartbeat, dizziness, sleeplessness, and shortness of breath.

Imagine being in such poor physical health and yet finding the courage and fortitude to press through the crowd to Jesus.

Sometimes we need to press through our difficulties and limitations to find our way to Jesus. We need to push aside busy schedules and many distractions to find our Lord. The crowd we face may be endless situations calling for our attention, or distractions all around us keeping our focus in the wrong place. We may find real physical limitations seem to leave us too weak even for prayer. But we must press through and press on.

You may find yourself weak, sick, overcome by life’s circumstances.

It may seem that a crowd of problems are pressing against you.

Picture that little lady, having suffered from endless bleeding and physical weakness, yet she pressed on to find Jesus. Let her be your inspiration.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to never to let our limitations keep us from You. Amen.

About The Author
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. He has endured years of Chronic Illness, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohn’s Disease. He has pressed on through God’s grace and strength.