Not OkaySample

Do you know what stress is? Not like, "Have you ever been stressed?" but more like, "Do you know what's happening when you're stressed?" God designed each of us with this incredible response system hardwired into our bodies. This system keeps us feeling safe, and the times we experience stress are times when this system temporarily activates. Your heart rate might increase, and your breathing pattern might change because your body is looking for help in managing the stress.

During Jesus' ministry, he met a woman who was also searching for ways to manage her stress. She had a condition where she was bleeding constantly, which kept her from fully participating in society. She was experiencing physical, mental, and emotional stress, but then she interacted with Jesus. She took a risk, and when she touched the edge of his cloak, she was healed.

In our moments of stress, sometimes all we can do is reach out to Jesus and hope for something better — or at least something different. We might feel desperate for change and need reassurance that God is with us. We can learn so much from this woman's story about resistance, perseverance, and how to look to God when we need hope. Each of us will feel like we're stressed out or anxious eventually. Whether it's school, relationships, or other things happening in the world, we'll need a plan for how to find hope when we need it. Thankfully, there are stories like this to remind us when you're not okay, Jesus offers hope.