Luke 8:40-56

 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”
(Luke 8:48-54 ESV)

Random Bible class information: This is a chiasm... a story within a story.  The point of the main story is found in the interrupting story.

I feel like it is a lot easier for us to talk about what we would like God to do than to acknowledge what He has done.  It is a lot easier to pray for God to do something than to thank Him for what He has done.  When we are in need, we are desperate and willing to employ any means to relieve the pressure.  The woman in this story had engaged every resource available to gain healing.  Supernatural intervention is what we long for most!  When the pressure is gone, we are much more likely to settle for the natural than the supernatural.  When I do this, I don't intend to slight God and His workings in my life.  I just feel funny about depending on the supernatural or crediting a miracle when it could be something else.  I think in this story, Jesus highlights that He alone was the source of healing and wanted that recognized.

I praise Jesus for my "retirement" from RaceSmith.  It was a gift from God and my husband that I didn't even want.  I didn't see the need for it until it happened.  I didn't work for it, ask for it, and yet it was given to me anyway.