S173P2 – Opportunities taken: pursuing the blessing

Mt. 9:20‭-‬22

And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

Every student who applied for the master’s program wanted that fellowship.  Not a single one would have turned it down, and only one spot was available each year.  The professor’s reputation was known not only in academia but in the field at large.  Those who spent time under his tutelage would have a leg up on their peers for many other opportunities.  Each student who applied to the program also applied for the fellowship then waited, but one student did a little more.  She refused to wait but decided to create an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.  She would travel the 2,000 miles to go to him and plead her case not just with words or papers but with action, and it would work in her favor.

This poor woman had a great need, but so many others in that time and place were just as needy.  In that crowd of people, there likely would have been nothing to set her apart from the rest.  Then, she decided to get down in the dirt and grab her blessing instead of waiting for it to come to her.  She literally placed herself in a lowly position in order to touch not the Lord but just the hem of his robe.  Such was her faith and her desperation for healing that she felt she had no choice but to go after it however she had to.  Face to the ground, she grabbed his garment as if life depended on it, and it very well might have.  The Lord’s response for her daring move was to bless and acknowledge her before others. 

The question is one of the manner in which we approach our blessings.  There is a difference between sitting back and waiting to be blessed, and actively pursuing our blessings.  I asked God to bless me with a body of valuable written work, and I waited for him to inspire me to start.  And I waited.  And I waited.  Then, I decided to start writing first and ask God to inspire and bless that.  I had to try exercising the gift I thought I had and knew I wanted before God blessed me with a gift that operates as He designed.  Otherwise, I might still be waiting for the green light to begin.  Father, give us the courage to do more than just ask and wait, to take bold steps toward the blessings we desire.