Recently, I spoke to a lady I had rapport with. As the conversation went on,the holy spirit led me to ask her where she worships,inviting her to worship and if she knew christ. I was moved to this topic after she confided in me.On inviting her to worship she immediately declined and went off saying she did not want to hear about Jesus. The next day,this same woman,found me in the library. She came to saying,she had been looking for me. I said, I trust all is well. She said, "you shall live long". To that I could only answer Amen.
She went on to tell me that, she went home and asked herself, "why I am I even not going to worship services?.She had confided in me in the conversation and I sensed there was a level self stigmatisation going on.There is stigmatisation by others and self stigmatisation.
For some, its because they have come to feel stigmatised by their own situation in life,the lack of something in their lives or something which looks looks significantly different to be deemed as "normal". If Jesus were to choose people to heal, serve him will he look at your life situation, will he look at your marital status, your life or will he will look at our heart and your alignment with his word. He has his unique time for you to find your feet in life. His speed for you is unique.
That stigma is the very thing that could lead you to your calling,your assignment. Should you only ease the burden of them and abandon them at the feet of Jesus, release focusing on them and use the time and energy in praise,worship and serve him. If you look at Jesus and who he reached out to were mainly people who may have been outcast/stigmatised in society. The Woman at the well as she is referred to is one of them.She does not even have a name. Just being known as the woman at the well is an indication that no one had made much attempt to find out her name. The disciples left Jesus at the well and were shocked to return to find him having a conversion with her. She was stigmatised by her marital life. Stigma caused her to go to the well when no one was there. Could it be that, Jesus wants to find you in a place on your own so he can talk to you.
Hagai servant to Sarai fled the home of Sarai after having a son for Abraham. The stigma of having a baby out of wedlock and for Abraham must have bothered her. Apart form Sarah mistreating her,could she have fled due to Stigma. Despite, this stigma, the lord spoke to her. Hagar said,
“I am running away from Sarai".
The angel of the Lord said to her, “Sarai is your owner. Go home to her and obey her.” The angel of the Lord also said, “From you will come many people—too many people to count.”
We see that,Hagai hears a message from the lord. Hagai may be the most unexpected person to hear from God according to many possibly because she involved herself with Abraham even though it was by the order of Sarah. The very situation that does look uncertain today may be the very thing that opens up you up for blessings.
Jesus used what looks like stigma to heal emotionally and physically,stigma to recover and stigma to deliver people. We know of blind Batimeaus and the woman at the well, again we aren't given any names for these two. Their situation appears attract peoples attention so much that, their names no longer matter as the issues with their lives which stigmatised them took over. With Batimeaus which wasn't his real name, it was his blindness. So he was known as,"Blind Bartimeaus".People even tried to stop him coming to Jesus because of this blindness which stigmatised him.
The woman with the issue of blood also knew she would be kept from Jesus so she crept quietly to touch Jesus garments to be healed with faith.
Who, what or which voices are keeping you from coming to meet Jesus?. Is it your own view of yourself and potentially how you may be viewed or is it how people view you. What stigma are you carrying that you think is too heavy for Jesus?. Jesus does not choose whom he reaches out to but he gives you a choice. A choice to come to him willingly to the throne that you may healed, recovered and restored. You see, you are already in his heart so its now over to you to receive him.
Stay blessed.
I am blessed Jackqueline
Find me on You Tube - Blessed Jackqueline
The Garment of Stigma - Part 1 and 2.
