Stretch Out… and Be Healed
Scripture: Matthew 12:9–14
Focus Verse: Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. — Matthew 12:13 (NIV)
We often wait to feel "ready" before we step out in faith. We want the pain to stop, the shame to go, or the situation to fix itself — then we’ll move.
But in Matthew 12, we see a different picture.Jesus enters the synagogue and finds a man with a withered hand. No name. No backstory. Just the pain. And Jesus doesn’t heal him and then ask him to stretch. He asks the man to stretch while the hand is still broken.
Can you imagine the courage that took?He could’ve said:“Lord, it’s been like this too long.”“I’m too embarrassed to try.”“What if nothing changes?”
But he obeyed — and healing came in the stretch.What if your healing doesn’t begin after you're ready, but when you respond in faith?Jesus still speaks today. He still sees the withered parts of your life — the ones you’ve stopped believing in, the ones you hide from others. And He still says, “Stretch out your hand.”
Reflection Questions:
1. What "withered" area in your life have you stopped stretching toward healing?
2. What would it look like for you to obey Jesus today, even while you're still hurting?
3. Are you willing to take one small step of faith, trusting that healing begins in the stretch?
Practical Ways to Apply This:
1. Start praying again. Even if your prayers feel weak or repetitive — God hears them.
2. Open up to someone you trust. Healing often begins in community, not isolation.
3. Take action. Fold that shirt. Open that journal. Make the appointment. Start rebuilding.
4. Invest in rest. Sometimes stretching means taking care of yourself without guilt.Remember: Stretching hurts… but it heals.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I confess I’ve been hiding the parts of me that feel broken and withered. I’ve let fear, shame, and discouragement stop me from reaching toward healing. But today, I hear Your voice calling me to stretch. Give me the faith to respond — not because I feel ready, but because I trust You. Heal me as I stretch toward You. In Your name, Amen.