I remember almost 7 years ago my mom had an “issue of blood.” She was hemorrhaging for a long time. It wasn’t just a long period…no…she bled continuously for over a year. I was at BYU, but my family was still getting used to a new military transfer for my dad at the time…in Barstow, California–the middle of nowhere desert! It was really hard on my mom, especially since her iron levels dropped tremendously. She hardly had any energy during this time. It also took a long while for the doctors to find out exactly what was causing the bleeding and the best way to take care of it. Finally, after almost two years, she had a hysterectomy. Her energy came back, and she was able to carry on life as normal.

After this experience, I can’t ever think of the New Testament woman with the issue of blood in the same way–I never personally experienced what she went through, but seeing how it affected my mom gave me new insight to this woman.

The woman with the issue of blood is first mentioned in Mark 5:25-34. She had this issue for 12 years, going to many different doctors to try to fix the bleeding, but nothing ever worked. In the Old Testament, under the Mosaic law, women who were on their period had to be separate from everyone else. The bleeding was considered unclean, so if anyone touched them or had relationships with them during their menstrual cycle, they were also considered unclean and had to be bathed. But, if she bled longer than the normal time of a period, she was unclean for the entire time that she bled.  (For more information on this Mosaic law, read Leviticus 15.) Which means that this woman was considered unholy and unclean for twelve entire years. In Judaic culture, that was almost as bad as if she were a leper! She would have been completely excluded from social, and even religious, events and gatherings. Can you imagine the loneliness that came with the anemia?

Well, she heard of Jesus, and when she knew he was going to be in her town, she went to find Him. It was probably super crowded as many wanted to see Jesus, and it must’ve taken all her energy (dealing with anemia) and courage (to be considered “unclean” but still be in a crowd). But, she had faith to be healed, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole” (Mark 5:28). When she touched his clothing, she felt immediately stronger and there was no more bleeding: “and straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague” (Mark 5:29).

Jesus knew that someone had touched him and that “virtue had gone out of him” (Mark 5:30), and asked who had done it. The woman was scared, but knowing that she had been healed by Christ, fell down before him and told the truth. Jesus lovingly said, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of they plague” (Mark 5:34).

Have Courage and Hope

The woman with the issue of blood had hope and courage, which I feel go hand in hand. Just think–living twelve years without modern day medicine or medical knowledge on how to help her or every why she was suffering this issue of blood. The fact that she was constantly bleeding must have scared her. Yet, never in the story is it mentioned that she wished to die or gave up trying. She kept going to doctors and when she heard of Christ, went to Him. I can recall plenty of other instances in the scriptures of the narrators saying “it would have been better had they died” or prophets bemoaning, “if only I could die and be at Christ’s side right now.” But this woman kept hope alive those twelve years.

And, the fact that she even attempted to touch Christ! First, she probably was anemic due to the loss of blood. She would’ve had very little energy or strength. And, it was a big crowd to push through. Second, she was culturally considered “unclean.” We all often get social and cultural fears of acceptance…would we have been willing to risk ridicule or worse during this time to possibly be healed? Then, after she had touched Christ’s clothing and He asked who did it, the scriptures mention she was trembling. What repercussion might she get for taking virtue out of Him without even asking and having been unclean when she did??! But, she was courageous enough to tell the truth out loud that she had touched Him.

Have Faith to be Healed

One of the biggest lessons that we can learn from this woman is to have faith. Not just faith in Christ as our Savior, but faith in Christ as our Healer. The woman with the issue of blood believed that if she just touched the clothes of Christ, she would be healed–she didn’t need to be anointed or blessed…just being able to touch any part of Him was enough to heal herself.

In D&C 46:19–21, it says, “To some it is given to have faith to be healed; … to some is given the working of miracles.” To be able to heal is a spiritual gift, but to have faith to be healed is also a spiritual gift. Christ also promises us that “he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed” (D&C 42:48).

I love that in recent years, the General Authorities have really focused on all the different healing aspects of the Atonement. It can heal not only our physical ailments, but also our emotional and mental ailments. I would strongly suggest going the Conference page on LDS.org and looking up this plethora of talks.

I grew up listening to this woman’s faith in a Kenneth Cope song from the album, Woman at the Well. It’s called, “Close Enough to Touch.” I love how it shows her faith to be healed.

Be Long-suffering and Endure Through Your Adversities

The scriptures tell us that in our earthly life, we should “be patient in afflictions, for [we shall] have many.” God then gives us this comforting promise, “Endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days” (D&C 24:8). We are all given trials in life, and I for one believe that we aren’t given any that we can’t handle with the help of Christ. Kent F. Richards, of the Quorum of the 70 related a story:

As a surgeon, I found that a significant portion of my professional time was taken up with the subject of pain. Of necessity I surgically inflicted it almost daily—and much of my effort was then spent trying to control and alleviate pain.

I have pondered about the purpose of pain. None of us is immune from experiencing pain. I have seen people cope with it very differently. Some turn away from God in anger, and others allow their suffering to bring them closer to God.

Like you, I have experienced pain myself. Pain is a gauge of the healing process. It often teaches us patience. Perhaps that is why we use the termpatient in referring to the sick.

Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.” (“The Atonement Covers All Pain,” General Conference, April 2011)

For the woman with the issue of blood, her trial of hemmorhaging was given to her to teach her long-suffering, patience, hope, courage, and faith. But, more than that, she was to be an example to others to learn the same lessons. Elder Ballard once said,

If our faith is anchored securely in our testimonies of Christ, we will be able to cope with whatever adversity comes our way, and we will be able to do so in a positive, faith-promoting manner. If we keep the eye of faith focused on Christ, we gain a broader view and an eternal perspective, and with that we can understand adversity from within the context of Heavenly Father’s eternal plan for all of His children. And we can find comfort in this life in the eternal safety, peace, joy and security that He promises. (Ensign, December 1996).

Her testimony was strong–she only needed to touch the Savior’s garment to be healed. Imagine what would happen today if everyone had courage, strength, hope, endurance, and faith just like her!

Thank you, to the woman with the issue of blood!