Leprosy isn’t a disease we hear about anymore, but in Jesus’ time it was a common and terrible sickness. If you touched someone with leprosy you would contract the disease. Not only did people with the disease have to cover themselves, but they had to yell, “Unclean!” so everyone would know not to come near them. They had to isolate themselves to live with others who had the same disease. It was often thought if you had leprosy it was because of some sin you had committed, and God was punishing you. I cannot imagine the shame these people carried around believing they had to be isolated because of sin they had in their past. Actually— I can imagine it.

When I sin, shame is quick to whisper “Unclean” and make me feel like I’m the worst person of all time. It tells me I’m a super sinner. A fraud. There’s no way I should work at a church, and am I even a Christian? Ok the last question may be extreme. But it’s true! Sin and shame go hand in hand and make us feel like modern-day lepers in a hopeless situation. But shame is a liar.

Satan uses shame to tell you that you’re too far gone—that like the leper you need to isolate yourself and hide under the cloth of regret so no one sees, and if a healthy person tries to get close, you need to run the other direction back with the other unclean people.

But you are never too far gone from Jesus’ reach. This Scripture in Matthew shows us that when we come to Him and ask for His healing touch, He is quick to reach out His hand. Jesus is not afraid of your past, and you are never too far gone from His presence. He is waiting to instantly heal every hopeless situation.

Wherever you are today, whatever you’re dealing with, you can ask Jesus to come and heal that situation. He is waiting, He is ready, and He is willing.