CASE STUDY 2: Woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:40-48)

We continue the series by exploring the divine encounter between Jesus and the woman with the issue of blood, an extraordinary moment where a spark of faith transformed her reality. Her story highlights the power of faith expressed through works, the courage to take bold steps, and the call to walk confidently toward our God-given destiny.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Few stories in the bible capture the raw desperation and bold determination of faith quite like the woman with the issue of blood. For twelve long years, she suffered, not just physically, but emotionally and socially isolated by her condition and overlooked by the world around her. And yet, in a single moment of courage, she reached beyond cultural barriers, personal pain, and fear to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. That simple act was more than a gesture, it was a deliberate step of faith, a work born from belief, and a turning point in her destiny.

In Mark 5:26, we learn that ^“[s]he 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.”

She had grown tired of the situation financially, emotionally, and physically. But then she heard about Jesus.

And in verse 28, we see a spark of faith ignite as she said to herself, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

That mustard-seed faith didn’t just stay in her heart, it moved her to action. She pressed through the crowd, uninvited and unnoticed, to get close enough to touch Him. That was her work, faith in motion.

What’s more, Jesus was on His way to heal a 12-year-old girl when this woman interrupted His journey. I can’t help but marvel at the divine alignment, the woman had suffered for twelve years, the same number of years the little girl had been alive. That wasn’t a coincidence, it was a GodINCIDENCE, a powerful reminder that God weaves timelines and stories together with purpose.

When she got close to Jesus, she didn’t shy away, get cold feet, or let the crowd’s opinions distract her. Think about it, after twelve years of suffering, she likely looked pale, frail, and worn out. She may have had an odor from years of bleeding, and she certainly wasn’t supposed to be in that crowd according to the law. But none of that stopped her. She took a bold, determined step and touched Him.

And you know what? Mark 5:29 tells us, “Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.”

So often, we find ourselves right on the edge of our breakthrough, but instead of pressing through, we allow distractions, fear of what people will think, doubt, insecurity, or even pride to hold us back. We hesitate and miss the immediate deliverance that’s available on the other side of a single act of faith.

Her act of faith was so powerful, so intentional, that even in the midst of a pressing crowd, Jesus felt it.

Mark 5:30 says, “At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’”

His disciples were baffled.

“You see the people crowding against you,” they said, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” (v. 31).

But Jesus knew her touch was different. It wasn’t accidental. It was desperate. It was faith-filled. He didn’t just feel her hand; He felt her heart. Her cry for healing, her belief in His power, her unwavering trust, it pulled virtue from Him.

And the miracle didn’t stop with her physical healing. Jesus didn’t just restore her health; He restored her identity. He aligned her back to her destiny and gave her something she may not have heard in years, belonging.

In verse 34, He says, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

That moment is profound because Jesus called her “Daughter.” In one encounter, she was healed, made whole, affirmed, and repositioned for divine fulfillment.

Thought to Ponder:
Faith starts in the heart but moves through action. The woman believed, but it was her reach that activated her miracle.

Crowds can distract, but purpose gives focus. She didn’t let the opinions, laws, or presence of others stop her.

Jesus knows the difference between casual contact and intentional faith. Many were touching Him, but only one touched Him with faith.

Wholeness includes identity. Jesus didn’t just heal her body, He restored her dignity by calling her “Daughter.”

God’s timing is intentional, not coincidental. Her 12-year journey intersected with the 12-year-old girl’s need. Her delay was part of a divine design.

Reflective Questions:
Are you allowing your faith to stay internal, or are you putting it into motion?

What step of faith is God asking you to take right now that could be the key to your healing, breakthrough, or the next stage of your destiny?