Unseen

A cluster of bodies.

Clamor to see…to hear.

Crushed all together,

Watching as the boat’s steered.

 

Hands over brows

Faces to sun

Yearning but sad,

To see no more that was done.

 

Watching oar break water

Backs turned toward me

Hurting, despairing,

Will He return and be…

 

Will He be the one,

The physician who heals;

Or will I go alone,

Walking shamefully still?

 

Heard rumors, stories,

Healings He’s done by power;

Want restoration, peace,

No more to be dour.

 

What more can be lost;

All is gone now?

Am unclean, impure,

Yet, I want, must believe, no loss, no how.

 

The shame, people fear my touch

Though nothing I can do;

Tried it all with no change

As I beheld each moon.

 

Washed and never dirty,

Still seen ever the same,

Unclean, deserted, shamed

Knowing, must believe, it can be changed.

 

Faith that all had been lost

These now twelve years past,

Dare I hope and not despair;

Are the rumors and whispers true, dare I ask?

 

Oh, murmurs like a raging river

Silence like chaos restrained,

Heart beats ever quicker,

Is it true, the boat’s heading this way?

 

Hands raised to brow

Searching, seeking for last hope,

Where will the boat land this time?

Is He even on the boat?

 

Heartbeats chase whispers,

The sound, a rapid rush;

Will this be the day?

My hope, my life, to have I must.

 

Gasp, catching my breath,

Be still, we may not meet;

Yet, the thunder of the tales,

Surely, surely, I must encounter, greet.

 

The bow beached, oars aglisten,

The splashing in me echoes,

Is this my time, I ask?

My heart cries, yes, step out. Go!

 

Still, I shrink back in the crowd;

They walk forward,

Then, I begin to think

Nothing lost; go onward.

 

From the back, pushing forward,

Touching arms and hips as I go,

Reaching out, just the hem;

I stretch and touch His cloak.

 

Instantly, I feel the blood runs no more.

At once, I’m not weak,

Not fatigued.

Hope latched-onto brought me peace.

 

In my solace, not agony,

Inside, all is renewed,

Considering the tales of this teacher

Renowned for His power imbued.

 

I hear His voice asking,

“Who just touched my cloak?”

I step back and tremble,

Stomach in throat and I choke.

 

He knew. How did He know?

None other asked who touched them.

But He knows and looks at me;

I’m caught; tell Him I touched His hem.

 

I fall at His feet;

In fear, I tremble;

What’s the cost; I have nothing?

What more can I possibly give?

 

Instead of reproving, His look shows love,

His eyes show the strength of His care;

He calls me “daughter”

And with His voice, I am spared.

 

More than social restoration,

More than my healing,

He said, “Your faith healed you.

Go in peace, be free of your illness.”

 

He addressed me;

He declared me clean.

I’m restored to the people

I can worship with others again.

I can go to the market.

I can wash my clothes with the women.

I can sit where I want.

I can be touched and hugged again.

 

Oh, the kindnesses I can enjoy,

But nothing e’er can surpass,

The greatest kindness given to me,

When the teacher came by me to pass.

 

The story I can tell,

Of the restoration He gave.

New health and growing belief;

He’s a teacher with power, and people wonder can He save?

 

Come to the teacher.

Hear and follow Him, too.

Come with your burden;

He can heal and make you new.

(Mark 5:24-34)

Restoration

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” [NASB]

When we think of the word restoration, we think of an old house being renovated to look as good as it did when it was first built. Restoration does the same thing for people, too. It’s a sweeping of cobwebs (old sins and baggage) out of the corners of our lives and hearts and making way for the glory of the Lord to inhabit us and make us new.

Before getting to the point of being restored, we must recognize we do wrong things. We sin against ourselves, other people, and God. When we repent and return to God, we renew a right relationship with Him.

Still, sometimes we feel weighed down by grief, by regret, by sadness, and by embarrassment. These feelings can teach us and strengthen us against temptation. They can humble us to realize we are no better than any other person. But, when we continue to live through these feelings, we should wonder have we accepted God's forgiveness, or have we allowed Satan to continue to torment us because of that sin?

Jesus' sacrifice was perfect and continues to be perfect for cleansing from sin, unlike the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament. His one-time sacrifice cleansed us from all our sins for all time. Jesus’ sacrifice cleansed us not just from the stain of sin, but the weight of sins, too. The blood of animals cannot remove the weight of sin; why else did Old Testament people continually offer animal sacrifices morning and night? Consider what the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 9:13-14.

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [NASB]

Once we accept Jesus' redeeming sacrifice for our sins, the sacrifice that saves us from the judgment that would condemn us because of our sins, we are not just clean from the stain of sin; God cleanses our conscience, too. That means the guilt of those sins does not weigh us down. Then, like David, we can have restored joy because of God’s salvation (Psalm 51:12). 

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” [NASB]
 

We are like the old house being made like new. Its restoration brings joy and excitement to the people who own the house and brings wonder to the people who watch the process. Our being made clean and new, our restoration, by God will fill us with joy, wonder, and excitement because of the salvation we have received. We need only accept within our heart, mind, and spirit God’s forgiveness of our sins to experience complete joy. We can have this assurance of God’s favor that will bring us joy by letting go of the guilt and accepting that God has forgiven us. 

Don't let Satan continue to taunt you with your faults and sins.

Acknowledge God's forgiveness.

Experience again the joy of His salvation.

Lord, I sin. I will be completely upfront about it. Sometimes I still feel guilty and I live my life in a dark haze. I just don’t seem to be able to shake the shame and guilt I feel because of my sins. Lord, help me repent of my sins and receive Your forgiveness. Restore in me the joy of Your salvation. Help me live as Your redeemed child so that others will notice what You have done in me and will ask why I am so joyful. Use me for Your glory and Your purpose, Lord. You are great and merciful. You alone are worthy of all praise and honor. Thank you for Your forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Amen.