Matthew 9:20-22 “Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”  Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. ”

We can be tempted to see our life as a series of arbitrary events. One of the most comforting (if not baffling) truths of the Bible is that God oversees every detail of the universe, and nothing happens beyond his knowledge or consent. It’s comforting because if it wasn’t true, we would just be molecules floating on the breeze. It’s baffling because so many events in life still seem random, disordered, or cruel.

Take the brief story above from the book of Matthew, chapter 9. In it, we meet a woman who has struggled with a bleeding disorder for twelve years. Twelve years!  Not only was this a physical challenge, but in the world of 1^st century Judaism she would have borne the shame of being considered perpetually unclean. It certainly seems like she was consigned to a terrible fate. Coincidentally (or not) we see in the story that her path crosses with Jesus. In a leap of faith, she works her way through the crowd to try to at least touch the edge of his cloak. Once she does, Jesus heals her immediately, acknowledging that her faith has made her well. What a happy accident! (Or not).

Many philosophical questions spring from this one little episode. Why do people like this woman have to suffer? If God indeed does oversee every detail, why does he allow things like this? If he allows it for a good reason, then what is it? The Bible addresses these questions, but not always to our complete satisfaction. To be sure, the answers the Bible gives aren’t easy answers. One of the answers presents itself in this story: the woman’s encounter with Jesus wasn’t an accident or a happy coincidence; it was the gracious hand of God. An aspect you will notice about Jesus as you read the gospels is that He is never in a hurry, even when it seems like He should be. The woman had to wait twelve years to be healed. Some people wait longer. Some people are never healed in this life.   

As a Christian, the only thing I can rely on as I consider this episode is the character of Jesus. He is gentle, compassionate, and kind. I trust Him to know how long is too long, and I know for sure He is far wiser than I am. If Jesus is always on time, and if He is always right, and if He is always good, and if it was His will to heal this woman, and if this woman had the faith to be healed, then her healing was only a matter of time. To be clear, twelve years is a long time to wait. Maybe you feel it’s too long to wait. Even so, He is asking if you have the faith to trust Him.

Ultimately the Bible’s answer to the supposed randomness of life is to say “Wait – the picture will come into focus if you’re willing to trust and wait and see.” In the book of Romans chapter 8 the Apostle Paul observes, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Through the lens of eternity, there are no accidents.

If you are going through a time of doubt or testing, and it feels like things are taking too long, Jesus himself offers this invitation later in the book of Matthew: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” It takes faith to take Him at his word, but the first step is a simple one – turn your eyes to Him, for He is surely passing by.