DATE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026
BYPASSING THE CROWD
BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 9:18-22
“For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” (Matthew 9:21)
I. THE CRISIS OF THE INVISIBLE BELIEVER
As we navigate the middle of January 2026, many find themselves asking a painful question: “Why does it seem like everyone else is achieving their goals while I am just taking up space?” You look across the “fence” of your current circumstances and see others being elevated, their testimonies being shared, and their lives making a difference. Meanwhile, you feel invisible, stagnant, and perhaps even disqualified by your own history of “discharge”—whether that be financial lack, emotional wounds, or a recurring weakness.
The woman in our Bible reading today lived in this “invisible” state for twelve long years. In the eyes of the law, she was unclean. In the eyes of society, she was a pariah. In her own eyes, she was a woman whose resources had been exhausted on doctors who could not help her. She was just a face in the crowd, a statistic of suffering. But she decided that 2026—her twelfth year of pain—would be the year her “touch” changed her “truth.”
II. THE ANATOMY OF A FAITH STRATEGY
In Matthew 9, Jesus is on a “high-profile” mission. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, has summoned Him to raise a dead daughter. This was a “front-page” miracle in the making. Jesus was surrounded by a “throng”—a massive, pressing crowd. Many were bumping into Him; many were touching Him out of curiosity or by accident. But only one touch was a Faith Touch.
1. The Internal Dialogue (Verse 21)
Before she ever touched the hem, she “said within herself.” Faith is born in the heart before it is expressed by the hand. Her internal narrative shifted from “I am dying” to “If I can just touch, I will be whole.” The Lesson: To change your external results in 2026, you must first change your internal dialogue. What are you saying “within yourself” about your situation?
2. The Risk of Discovery
Because she was “unclean,” the law required her to stay away from people. By entering the crowd, she was risking public shame or even stoning. Real faith is always willing to break through the “social laws” of “what is expected” to get to Jesus. She didn’t have the “proper” credentials to ask for a miracle, so she decided to “steal” one from the hem of His garment.
3. The Specificity of the Hem
The “hem” (tzitzit) of a Jewish garment represented the authority and the Word of God. She wasn’t just touching fabric; she was reaching for the authority of the Messiah. She chose a strategy that didn’t require a public speech or a lengthy ritual. She chose the “direct line” of faith.
III. THE SUDDEN TURN: WHY THE TOUCH WORKED
Jesus was moving toward a dead girl, but He stopped for a living touch. The woman’s strategy was to be healed “anonymously,” but Jesus wanted to crown her “publicly.”
Verse 22 says: “But Jesus turned him about…” Think of the power of that moment. The Creator of the universe paused His mission to acknowledge a single, trembling finger that had reached out in faith. When you touch Jesus with real faith, you “interrupt” the heavens. You move from the “General Crowd” to “Special Attention.”
Jesus said, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.” She wanted physical healing (to be “better”), but Jesus gave her “Wholeness” (to be “whole”). Faith touches don’t just fix the problem; they restore the person.
IV. REACHING OUT IN 2026
Where have you been lacking? Is it in your courage to approach the Master? Are you worried that your “unclean” past disqualifies you from a “Faith Touch”?
The woman with the issue of blood proves that Jesus is “ever willing to notice your touch.” You don’t need a platform, a title, or a perfect record to reach for the hem. You only need a desperate heart and a decided mind.
The Crowd represents the distractions, the opinions of others, and the “busy-ness” of life.
The Hem represents the accessible power of God’s Word.
The Touch represents your act of prayer, your seed of faith, or your radical obedience.
PRAYER DECREES FOR THE DAY
For Breakthrough: Father, I refuse to be just another face in the crowd. Today, I reach out with my heart to touch the hem of Your authority. Let my “issue of twelve years” dry up now!
For Internal Strength: Lord, help me to “say within myself” the right things. I decree that I am not just taking up space; I am a candidate for a miracle.
For Divine Attention: O Lord, just as You turned for that woman, turn aside to me in my secret place of prayer. Let Your virtue flow into my specific need.
For Restoration: I receive “Wholeness.” I am not just healed; I am restored in my mind, my body, and my destiny in 2026!
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 36-37; Matthew 12:1-21
CONTACT FOR PRAYERS & COUNSELLING:
To speak to a Pastor, please call, text or WhatsApp:
+2348160525695, +2348034920168
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The crowd is pressing Jesus, but the touch of faith is what stops Him. Don’t just be near Him; touch Him!
