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Radical Unstoppable Faith

Author’s note: We are traveling to United Women in Faith Assembly this week to gather together in worship, fellowship, justice, leadership, and spiritual formation.  May we remember that God still honors courageous faith. See you at the United Women in Faith Assembly! Stop by the Scarritt Bennett Center Booth #306 in the Exhibit Hall and tell us: “I have Radical Unstoppable Faith!”

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She said, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’ Mark 5:28 NIV

Read: Mark 5:25–34

There was a woman whose condition had become her identity. Scripture says she had suffered with an issue of blood for twelve long years. Twelve years of pain. Twelve years of isolation. Twelve years of disappointment. Twelve years of being overlooked, talked about, dismissed, and labeled unclean.

According to the social and religious laws of her day, she was not only physically weak, she was socially excluded. Her condition prevented her from fully participating in community life and worship. She had spent all she had on physicians, yet instead of improving, she grew worse.

Can you imagine the exhaustion? The frustration? The silent tears?

Yet despite her condition, the woman in the text demonstrates something powerful: radical unstoppable faith.

Mark tells us she heard about Jesus. Faith often begins with what we hear. Somewhere between her suffering and her breakthrough, hope entered her spirit.

The text says: “She said, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’”

Notice: She did not ask for a microphone. She did not need a platform. She did not need permission from the crowd. Her faith pushed past obstacles.

The crowd was pressing around Jesus, yet she believed there was still room for her miracle.

She reached anyway.
She pressed anyway.
She believed anyway.

And immediately, power flowed.

Jesus stopped and asked,

“Who touched me?”

Not because He lacked information, but because He wanted to affirm her publicly. The woman who had been hidden in shame would now be seen in grace.

Jesus called her “Daughter.”

Before healing her body, He restored her dignity.

Sometimes faith feels like trying to move through a crowded room carrying invisible pain. Everyone sees your smile, your responsibilities, your leadership, your service but they do not see the private bleeding.

Yet unstoppable faith says:
“I may be tired, but I will still reach.”
“I may be discouraged, but I will still believe.”
“I may not understand the delay, but I refuse to surrender my hope.”

Like this woman, many of us have endured seasons where we felt depleted by life, systems, injustice, grief, caregiving, leadership burdens, or disappointment. Yet faith keeps whispering: “Keep moving toward Jesus.”

Let’s Reflect:

The woman with the issue of blood teaches us:

1. Unstoppable faith moves despite obstacles.

The crowd did not stop her. Her condition did not stop her. Her past disappointments did not stop her.

2. Unstoppable faith reaches beyond fear.

She risked criticism to touch the hem of His garment. Faith often requires courage before comfort.

3. Unstoppable faith believes breakthrough is possible.

After twelve years, she still believed healing could happen.

What if your next step of faith changes everything?

What if the breakthrough is connected to your willingness to keep pressing?

Beloved, do not allow exhaustion to extinguish expectation.

Keep reaching.
Keep believing.
Keep pressing.
Your faith is unstoppable.

Let’s Pray

Gracious and loving God, Thank You for the witness of the woman with unstoppable faith. When life drains us, remind us that Your power still restores, heals, and renews. Give us courage to press through fear, disappointment, weariness, and doubt. Help us to trust You even when answers seem delayed.

Restore dignity where there has been shame. Restore hope where there has been despair. Restore strength where there has been exhaustion.

May our faith remain radical, resilient, and unstoppable. Empower us as women of faith to continue creating space for healing, justice, compassion, and transformation in the world.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Faith,

Rev. Sondrea L. Tolbert, J.D., M.Div.

Executive Director & CEO