Hi friend!

Welcome back to Tales of Grace! I’m so glad you’re here.

Have you ever felt untouchable, unseen, or unworthy? I know I have. Those moments can feel so heavy, leaving us isolated and unsure of where to turn.

Today, I want to share the story of someone who knew this feeling all too well—a leper. His story, found in Matthew 8:1–4, shows us a beautiful picture of Jesus’ compassion:

“When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. And a leper came up to Him and bowed down before Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You are able to make me clean (well).’ Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, ‘See that you tell no one [about this]; but go, show yourself to the priest [for inspection] and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony [of your healing].’”

Matthew 8:1–4 AMP

Let’s take a moment to imagine what this man might have been going through.

In those days, leprosy wasn’t just a physical illness—it carried a heavy weight of isolation and rejection.

Can you imagine the ache of being cut off from everyone you love? The pain of feeling as though your presence alone caused discomfort?

The stigma was overwhelming, much like how certain illnesses are misunderstood in today’s world. Yet, this leper didn’t let the stigma stop him. Despite his suffering, in desperation, he approached Jesus with both boldness and humility.

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” ~ Leper

Before making his request, he acknowledged Jesus as Lord. He recognized His authority and power to heal. He approached Jesus not with entitlement but with humility and faith — trusting completely in Jesus’ ability to heal.

And Jesus, in His boundless mercy and grace, responded with words that must have felt like water to a parched soul:

“I am willing.” ~ Jesus

Then, Jesus did something astonishing—He reached out and touched the man. Jesus didn’t have to do more than say a word; and the man would have been healed either way.

But no, He took it a step further and touched him! In a world quick to avoid discomfort and focus on appearances, Jesus did what no one else dared. He touched the untouchable.

He didn’t just heal the man’s physical body; but restored his dignity too. The man came to Jesus for physical healing and Jesus gave him what he didn’t know he needed; a restored heart and identity. Isn’t beautiful that we serve a God who sees us and knows exactly what we need?

Jesus saw him as more than his condition. He saw someone worthy of love and care.

It’s incredible to think how one touch, one act of compassion from Jesus, can heal not just the body but also the heart and identity.

How many of us, my friend, feel like this leper sometimes? We may carry wounds that no one else can see or feel weighed down by seasons of rejection.

But here’s the truth: Jesus is both willing and able to make us whole. He always has been, and He always will be.

Friend, I don’t know where you find yourself today. Maybe you are celebrating like the leper having experienced the healing touch of Jesus in your life. If you have, do you mind sharing your story with us? Or maybe your heart is longing for that healing today, remember Jesus sees you and He is with you.

My prayer for you today is that you know, deep within your heart, that you are worthy of love and care—not because of anything you’ve done or left undone, but because of what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. As John 3:16 so beautifully reminds us, He gave His life for you and for me, a testament of His boundless love and grace.

Your thoughts and stories (click here to share your story) mean so much to me. And I love reading your comments and hearing your reflections. Please feel free to share what’s on your heart or a story you’d like me to feature in future blog posts.

If this post touched your heart, would you consider sharing it with someone who might need this reminder? You never know how God might use it to encourage their heart.

With love and grace,
Founder of Tales of Grace