Faith Over Feelings: The Key to Breakthrough in Suffering

The woman with the issue of blood suffered for 12 years. Throughout those years, she sought multiple solutions to end her suffering. But when she heard about Jesus and was presented with the right opportunity, she reached out and touched something that was merely attached to Him—because through faith, she believed He could end her suffering. What stood out to me in this passage is that she never asked Jesus to heal her. She simply believed that He would make her well. It wasn’t until she attached herself to Him that power went out from Him. And when she revealed to Jesus that she was the one who had touched Him, He said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5:34) Jesus didn’t say that He made her well—He attached her healing to her faith. From this, I realized that the power is in the belief, not just the request.

So often, we beg God to heal us from the cycles and patterns of suffering we’ve endured. But how do we explain the seasons of life where it seems like our prayers go unanswered? I believe it’s when we become more attached to what we’re suffering with rather than to the One who ends all suffering that we remain stuck in those cycles.

We see this in the woman who suffered for years, searching for alternative methods to heal herself. But when she heard about Jesus, she attached herself—not to another method, but to Him. She didn’t even ask Him to heal her; she simply believed in her heart that He would. Scripture tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). All things means healing, financial breakthrough, career advancement, prosperous friendships, and relationships—whatever we can ask, think, or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Another example of a woman who was blessed when she attached herself to God is Ruth. Ruth came from a family that did not worship God, but she married into a family that did. When her husband died, she refused to return to the traditions of her upbringing. Instead, she clung to the God of her departed husband and his mother, saying, “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16). She worked, followed the ways of a woman of God, and remained faithful—not dwelling on the fact that she had lost her husband, her comfort, and her stability. Instead, she focused on God, and in time, everything she lost was restored to her.

What can we take from these examples? When we shift our focus from our suffering to the One who restores, we position ourselves for breakthrough. Faith and attachment to God—not just requests—are what bring true transformation.

When we suffer, we must remember that the only way to please God is through our faith. “Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). In those moments, we will be tempted to return to the solutions that used to work before we were saved—going back to smoking weed, running to the bottle, losing ourselves in sexual transgressions, or abandoning our moral compass in search of temporary peace. But I urge you to stay connected to the Source. Through your actions, show God that you trust Him to make a way out of no way, that you believe He will restore everything lost tenfold (Job 42:10), and that no matter what your circumstances look like, you will praise Him and attach yourself to the things of God.

Remember, faith is the currency of your breakthrough—not your request. God moves where faith is present, but He can do nothing when doubt lingers in our hearts (James 1:6-7).

Your faith will make you well.