By Michaela Lemonis, singer-songwriter,
multi-instrumentalist

It was during my Bible study time that I came across the story of the woman who received healing in Mark 5:25-34.

Growing up in church I was very familiar with her story, but that particular morning, it was as if I was reading it for the first time and I was overwhelmed at her faith. After suffering for over twelve years and her condition only worsening, she did not lose hope. She’d heard of Jesus and believed there was enough power in Him that if she could just touch the hem of His garment, she would be healed. 

I heard the Lord tell me, “Michaela, I want you to be that woman.” 

It was such a powerful and distinct calling that I knew I needed to obey it. I decided I would have faith like her, and I would put my faith into action as she did. However, I was still not sure why God gave me this Word.

Three days later as I was packing for a three-week tour, I received a phone call from my doctor and learned that I had cancer. I still remember the moment I heard that terrible word, and almost as quickly as it sank into my soul, there was the order again that I’d heard a few days earlier from God: “Be that woman.” I knew, then, what God meant. 

He had been preparing me for something that was bigger than I could handle, and all I had to do was believe that I would be healed, and claim that healing in Jesus’ name. I made my decision to be that woman, and a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) came over me like a blanket.

Many prayers and a few weeks later, I had surgery to remove the tumor. In March of this year, I will celebrate three years being cancer-free! 

Through this unexpected journey, I have learned so much. I have a growing closeness with Jesus that I did not know was possible, and I am incredibly grateful for it. Another thing He continues to show me is to trust Him with absolutely everything. I think that sometimes it’s easy to trust Him with the ‘big problems’ because they are beyond us, but when it comes to the little things, we tend to think we can deal with them on our own.

The truth is, He wants all of it. “Cast all of your cares on Him” (1Peter 5:7) means that there is nothing too big for God to handle, or too small and insignificant for Him to care about. This is just one of the beautiful ways that we can experience constant and growing fellowship with the One who loves us in all the big and little things in life.

God made each of us unique and has a special plan for our lives. If you look at Scripture, you will see how He used women in very extraordinary ways. Maybe you can identify with some of them:

·       Are you called to be a courageous leader, like Esther?(1) 

·       Have you been led to support Kingdom causes and spread the story of Jesus, like Mary Magdalene?(2) 

·       Does He want you to demonstrate love and commitment, like Ruth?(3)  

·       Have you been holding on to the hope of a promised blessing, like Sarah?(4)  

·       Do you feel like you need to be a little less Martha and a little more Mary?(5) 

In his book Chase the Lion (6), author Mark Batterson shares about a speech by Dr. Richard Halverson in which he describes an old man you will meet one day. I’ve modified it here for the ladies:

“You’re going to meet an old woman someday down the road—ten, thirty, fifty years from now—waiting there for you... that old woman will be you. She will be a composite of everything you do, say, and think—today and tomorrow... Her heart will be turning out what you’ve been putting into it. Every little thought, every deed goes into this old woman.”

So, what woman is God calling you to be? Whoever it is, be that woman. 

About Michaela Lemonis

Michaela Lemonis is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. She and her husband, John, tour the nation as the Crosby Lane folk duo. They have been featured on GAC, CMT, Daystar, K-Love and numerous other television and radio networks. She and her husband live in Nashville, Tennessee with their daughter, Kara. You can find the music of Crosby Lane on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Play, and other digital media outlets. For more information on Crosby Lane, visit their website at www.crosbylane.com , and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @crosbylanemusic.

Kayla’s reSOURCEs:

(1) Book of Esther

(2) Luke 8:2; John 20:11-18

(3) Book of Ruth

(4) Genesis 21:1-7 

(5) Luke 10:38-42

(6) Chase the Lion, by Mark Batterson

(7) Story of the woman healed when she touched the garment of Jesus:  Mark 5:25-34