Afflictions

Suffering, distress, pain, trouble, misery, hardship, misfortune, adversity, sorrow, tribulation and trial are all types of afflictions that a person experiences in a Christian life. If you are facing any of these afflictions, don’t give up! If you haven’t experienced an affliction before, you will because in a Christian life affliction is  an absolute certainty and it can last for a day, a moment or a lifetime.

In the gospel of St. Mark (Chapter 5 verses 25 to 34), we learn about a woman who had faced an affliction for many years…

²⁵ Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, ²⁶ and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. ²⁸ For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

²⁹ Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. ³⁰ And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

³¹ But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

³² And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. ³³ But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. ³⁴ And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.

-Mark 5: 25-34 (NKJV)

This woman suffered for  twelve years and when she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. She knew no doctor could cure her and Jesus was her only hope.  For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” As Jesus felt her touch,  what a joyous moment it was for this lady to immediately  feel healed and to hear our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ tell her,  “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”  

Twelve  years is a long time to suffer from any affliction, but as we can see this woman never gave up.  She trusted and believed our Lord could and would heal her and He did! When you are faced with an affliction of any kind, do not be dismayed as it is part of being a Christian.

As a Tewahedo Orthodox Girl, please remember afflictions are not foreign to a Christian life. Therefore, you will experience every type and kind of affliction coming at you from all directions and touching every area of your life.  It is at that moment that you will need to hold on tightly to your faith and trust God.