In Mark chapter 5, the Bible says a great multitude followed Jesus and thronged Him. Crowds surrounded Him everywhere He went. People pressed against Him from every side. But hidden inside that crowd was one woman whose approach was different.

Scripture says:

“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.”

That word “touched” stands out to me.

Many people were thronging Jesus, but only one was touching Him in faith. Many were close to Him physically, but only one reached Him with expectation. She refused to remain part of the crowd. She pressed through it.

And when she touched Jesus, everything changed.

Immediately, the fountain of her blood dried up, and she was healed.

Right after this miracle, Jairus received devastating news about his daughter:

“Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

But Jesus immediately responded with these powerful words:

“Do not be afraid; only believe.”

That statement still speaks today because every believer will eventually face moments where faith must press through fear, bad reports, and impossible circumstances.

I remember facing one of those moments personally during the height of COVID in 2021. My dad became very sick with COVID pneumonia, and the doctors told us things were not looking good. Because of hospital restrictions, my mom and I couldn’t even go inside. We sat in a parking garage while receiving reports over the phone.

Fear tried to flood our minds. Every circumstance seemed to scream the worst possible outcome.

But in that moment, we made a decision: we were going to press through fear and stand on the promises of God.

After several difficult weeks, my dad came home healed. Today it’s as if nothing ever happened.

That season reminded me of something powerful: faith often has to press through fear before it lays hold of the promise.

We see this same principle throughout Scripture.

Blind Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus while the crowd tried to silence him. But instead of backing down, the Bible says he cried out even louder. He pressed through people’s opinions and received his sight.

In Mark chapter 2, four men carried a paralyzed man to Jesus, but when they arrived, the house was so crowded they couldn’t even get through the door. Most people would have stopped there. Instead, they climbed onto the roof, broke through it, and lowered their friend down before Jesus.

I love the picture in that story because it teaches us a powerful truth:

When they couldn’t press horizontally, they pressed vertically.

There have been seasons in my own life where that truth became very real.

Several years ago, I applied for a ministry internship in Texas that I strongly believed I was supposed to be part of. The problem was that I had zero experience. Still, I applied anyway.

Weeks later, I received the rejection email.

Immediately, discouragement and insecurity tried to set in. But deep in my heart, I still sensed that God had a purpose connected to that opportunity.

Then the Lord spoke something simple to me:

“Pray in the Spirit for fifteen minutes every day about the internship.”

So that’s what I did.

Day after day, I prayed. No dramatic feelings. No lightning bolts. Just simple obedience.

Then weeks later, I received a message asking if I was still interested in the internship. Shortly afterward, I was accepted.

Later, one of the leaders told me something that deeply impacted me. They said God had given them a dream where they saw me sitting in one of their meetings, and that’s how they knew I was supposed to be there.

Not long after hearing that, I sensed the Holy Spirit whisper this in my heart:

“While you were praying in tongues, I was giving them dreams.”

That moment taught me something I’ll never forget: when you can’t press horizontally, the Spirit of God will help you press vertically.

Sometimes the crowd looks like fear. Sometimes it looks like a delay, rejection, opposition, or a bad report. But faith keeps moving toward Jesus.

Paul used this same language in Philippians when he said, “I press on” and “I press toward the goal.” Faith is intentional. Faith refuses to quit.

Maybe you’re in a season right now where it feels like something is standing between you and the promises of God.

Don’t stop pressing.

The crowd does not determine the outcome—faith does.

Jesus still responds to faith. He still honors those who refuse to quit. And whatever obstacle stands in your way today, the grace of God can help you press through it.

So don’t stop now.

Press through fear.
Press through people’s opinions.
Press through the bad report.

And remember: When you can’t press horizontally, you can always press vertically.

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