Stand Tall
So often on this walk, we emphasize the importance of setting our gaze on God. Gazing at Him above our circumstances, walking by faith -looking to Him and not by sight, so and and so forth. Even up against the battle of distractions, we still make the resolution to do better and look to Jesus. It is in those times when it seems like opposition comes our way though. Can you relate? Obstacles that seem to taint your vision of Him, life’s circumstances, distractions, tragedy and even the lies of the enemy. Not only do we sometimes experience a very skewed view of the Lord but we also go through moments when we feel like He has a skewed view of us too. Moments when we get the idea that we’re just another number amongst His billions of children on earth. But we can automatically deem that thought untrue, since the Word says He calls us by name (Isaiah 43:1). However, the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than for us to believe that we are unseen by God. Thankfully Jesus sees fit to inform our hearts otherwise by using the life of a women whom we can relate to.
This woman is found in scripture and although her name is not mentioned; we see Jesus refer to her as “daughter”. A daughter of Abraham (which speaks to the promises of Abraham). The same name in which we identify. However, I am sure that this woman didn’t feel like anyones daughter. I wonder if she even knew God or her identity in Him. She certainly wasn’t seeking Him at the time when she encountered the One Who would change her life forever. I mean, in her defense how could she? She’d spent eighteen years hunched over, looking down. Darkness was more of her reality than light.
Scripture referred to her condition as a spirit of infirmity. And it not only kept her in a limited physical posture, but it also limited her perspective. She did not possess the ability to see all of God’s glorious creation all around her. She even lacked the vantage point of seeing the beautiful people of God. Furthermore, she could not freely look up to the hills to which our help comes from. But all hope was not lost because even in this woman’s inability to look anywhere but down; the very One Who sits high and looks low; saw her.
Luke 13:10-13 tells it like this:
10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue,
11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight.
12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!”
13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
Even in the midst of teaching; Jesus saw her. All of her. So much to the point that He interrupted His own teaching session, to call the woman to Himself and heal her! There is so much fullness in this because often, we see in scripture where multitudes of people were after Jesus and His healing power. But this woman was amongst the combination of both students and spectators, simply listening to the teaching of Jesus. Yet He saw her. She was not amongst those in scripture pursuing Him, yet we see Him pursue her. Would you believe me if I said He pursues us. He pursues you. If you were ever under the false perception that God is too busy for you; may this account shut all of that down.
Where have you become hopeless? What areas of life have you become discouraged and as a result settled? Oh my dear sis, we do not serve a God Who is blind to our weakness, but knows every detail of our lives. Nor does He withhold His deliverance. We don’t have to project someone else’s half effort or disinterest on God. He is unlike man. I mean, Jesus could have easily said, “I see this woman’s infirmity but I’m busy teaching the Word right now.” Or “Others have it way worse. She’ll be okay. Besides, at least she can hear the Word even if she can’t stand straight and see me teaching it.” No! Jesus wanted her completely healed and upright.
Where she settled, pertaining to her condition; God knew and cared about her condition. As a matter of fact, The Passion Translation says, “..Jesus saw her condition..” He sees and cares about the condition of His daughters too. Whether it be weariness, discouragement, deception, oppression, sickness and even passiveness towards Him; He cares far too much about us to leave us the same! He longs to usher us into our freedom and He does so by speaking with both compassion and authority such as the kind seen in verse 12, when He deems her healed.
The only thing we see the woman do up until this point was simply be in Jesus’s midst as He taught. The very moment of the liberation for the woman is a clear depiction of God’s promise to us, that “Where the Spirit of the Lord is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 As a result of Jesus’s compassion, authority and touch; the woman was instantly able to stand upright. She probably had the slightest clue that she would walk into healing that day. Eighteen years of been overlooked and abandoned by society, yet our Savior saw her. Furthermore, He knew her. He knew about her condition without her saying a word. Even after what probably seemed like forever; hope was available to her within the perfect timing and will of God. Who knows, perhaps He was cultivating her heart throughout those years. We don’t even know if she was a follower or spectator among the crowd of listeners. But one thing is for sure; the first and only words we see her speak in this account was her praise to the Lord!! So if she wasn’t prior to her healing, surely she was after.
Sis, be encouraged. God Knows all about it. He sees your efforts, your frustrations, the questions of your heart, limitations of all sorts, obstacles and your need for Him. He has not forgotten you. He hasn’t overlooked you. But HE SEES YOU! He chooses you and like the woman in Luke 13; He is calling you to Himself so that He can usher you out of chaos and into freedom. So wherever you have found yourself hunched over by the obstacles of life, causing you to look everywhere but up; STAND TALL and look to the hills from where your help comes from…Knowing that He is looking right back at you.
Let’s Pray:
Gracious God, we thank You for being the God Who sits high and look low. Thank You for being El-Roi which means “The God Who sees me”. We admit that at times, we feel so unseen. When this lie from the enemy creeps in O God destroy it. Forgive us for every lie we’ve believed thus far. We come out of agreement with every untrue thing, now. We ask that You would give us a fresh perspective of Who You are and Who we are. Enlighten us of Your love towards us and usher us into freedom that’s found in You alone. For everything that has weighed us down, we place it at Your feet today. As a result, may You enable us to stand tall.
In Jesus’s name, amen.
