​The Scriptures tell us that while Jesus was on earth, he cared about every person he met: man or woman, slave or free, young or old, sick or healthy, rich or poor, healthy or sick, guilty or innocent. In particular, there are many wonderful stories about how Jesus met women right where they were.

Let me tell you about a woman whose story is so dear to me as someone who has has struggled with chronic health issues. This woman had been bleeding for 12 years. She had spent everything she had and gone to every doctor she could find, yet she continued to get worse.

One day this woman followed Jesus into the crowd, desperate for healing. She touched just the tip of his cloak. Immediately healing power went out of Jesus and the woman's bleeding stopped. Can you put yourself in her shoes? I would have fallen to ground and wept right where I was.

Jesus immediately knew what had happened and demanded to know who had touched him. Finally the woman stepped forward, falling at his feet, trembling with fear, and told him the whole story. "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

In her culture, a woman having her period was "unclean." She couldn't touch other people, pray in the temple, be intimate with her husband. Her shame would have been obvious to everyone. In addition to her physical body, what was healed in the woman's life? Some women's shame is very obvious, but for others, the shame is hidden. We can't remove this shame on our own.

Jesus sees our shame, He feels compassion for us, and He will remove the shame for us--just like He did for this woman.

"...to bestow on them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3