Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
— Luke 8:47-48
This generation of students is the most socially connected generation in history. However, it’s also the most depressed. The World Health Organization reports, roughly, one person dying from suicide every 40 seconds. For 15-29-year olds it is the second leading cause of death. What’s behind this? There’s a lot. Yet, a common contributing factor is feeling unseen and unnoticed. This generation knows it’s possible to be connected in unprecedented ways without having a true connection to anyone.
That’s where this bleeding woman was in the gospel of Luke. She was known by all, but only from a distance. She was alone. She was looked down on. She may have thought, “If I could only have this area of my life healed then I would be accepted in society.” Then Jesus walked by. He was already helping someone else, but she thought she could simply touch Him and escape without notice. Weaving through the crowd she touched him and was healed. Jesus stopped. She couldn’t believe it. He waited. Surely, he would move on. But he stayed. Then it hit her. She wouldn’t go unnoticed for the first time in her life. She fell at his feet and realized that while she was only hoping for external healing, she left saved by the God who stopped and stayed for her.
She came to Jesus looking for healing in a part of her life, and she left having her whole life cleansed. She came unnoticed and left having her soul seen. She approached as an outcast and left as a daughter. She only wanted something from Jesus, but she was given Jesus Himself.
When you feel unseen this week and they don’t text, or you weren’t invited or someone was celebrated and you were unnoticed; fall on your face before the Lord as this woman did. Find rest in knowing you cannot go unnoticed by the Savior in whom you trust. He was alone in His death so you wouldn’t have to be alone in life. He bore wrath from God so you could have peace with God. Give Him your bleeding life and let Him restore you as His child. This faith will heal you and leave your soul seen.
Our prayer is that you wouldn’t look to posting on social media, texting, or Snap Chatting in ways you shouldn’t, or bashing others in an attempt for attention. When you’re secure in Whose you are, you won’t have to tell the world how great you are. In Christ, you can’t go unnoticed. Rest here.
What are different ways you express the feeling of going unseen in your life?
How can you be reminded of the reality that God sees you?