Most of us would rather not be desperate. We like having options. We like knowing what comes next and believing that, if something goes wrong, we can figure out a way forward. But sometimes life brings us to a place where our options begin to disappear. It is uncomfortable, but those places can also teach us something important about faith.

The woman in Mark 5 had reached that place. For twelve years she had suffered from a physical condition that had affected virtually every part of her life. Mark tells us that she “had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse” (Mark 5:26). Twelve years is a long time to carry a burden. She had sought help, spent her resources, and tried what was available to her. Instead of improving, however, her condition had grown worse.

Then she heard about Jesus. A crowd surrounded Him as He made His way toward the home of Jairus, whose daughter was desperately ill. The woman did not ask for an audience or expect Jesus to stop everything for her. She simply believed, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole” (Mark 5:28). She made her way through the crowd, reached out, touched His garment, and immediately she was healed.

What strikes me about this encounter is that the woman’s desperation did not drive her away from Jesus. It drove her toward Him. After twelve years of disappointment, she still had enough faith to reach. There are seasons when we can become discouraged because we have prayed about something for a long time. We have asked God to work, and the answer has not come in the way or timing we hoped. Perhaps we have even reached the point where we are not sure what else to do. This woman reminds me that when I have exhausted my answers, I have not exhausted God’s ability.

Jesus stopped and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” The disciples could hardly understand the question because the crowd was pressing against Him from every direction. Many people were physically close to Jesus that day, but this woman had reached for Him in faith. When she came forward trembling and told Him what had happened, Jesus did more than acknowledge her physical healing. He called her “Daughter” and said, “thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” (Mark 5:34).

Perhaps you have been carrying something for a long time. Maybe you have prayed about it repeatedly and still do not understand why God has not changed the situation. This passage does not promise that every long-standing problem will be resolved immediately, but it does remind us where to turn when our own resources are exhausted. Desperation can convince us that there is nowhere left to turn, but faith reminds us that there is still Someone to whom we can turn. Keep reaching for Jesus.