He waited and waited. And nothing happened. He prayed and prayed—to no avail. He tried and tried—yet nothing changed.
Have you ever felt like that?
For 38 years, the man by the pool of Bethesda felt like that. He was stuck in his condition for FOUR DECADES! He must have gotten used to the way things were. He must have accepted that he would be lame the rest of his life.
In John 5:4 we read that “An angel of the Lord would go down into the pool and stir up the water, and whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.”
As miraculous as this sounds, can you imagine how discouraging this must have been for a man who couldn’t walk? If only the first person in the water could get healed, then how could he ever expect his miracle?
He couldn’t. And he didn’t.
He got used to the way things were. He settled with his present condition. He was NOT sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Sometimes, we are just like that, aren’t we? We settle for the way things are. We figure: “What’s the use? I’m stuck. This is how it will probably always be. I guess that miracle angel is showing up for someone else. Not me.”
But then, something MORE MIRACULOUS HAPPENED: Jesus showed up!
An angel might have been able to stir up the water, and heal one in a million.
BUT WHEN JESUS SHOWS UP, He can stir up and heal ANYONE!
His grace is available to everyone right now! Including you!
Jesus shows up and shows us what it takes to experience the miracle we need; to get unstuck; to move forward; and to never be the same again!
When Jesus showed up the first thing He did was ask the question:
“Do you WANT to be made whole?”John 5:6.
1. That’s where our miracle starts: We simply have to WANT it.
2. Then He shows us the next key: STOP MAKING EXCUSES.
Up to this point, that’s what this man was full of: excuses. (John 5:7: “I have no one to help me in the water.”)
The thing I’ve learned about God is that He doesn’t accept excuses…but He gives plenty of grace! In other words, as long as we allow ourselves reasons and excuses for staying the same, we are passively accepting our condition. But as soon as we stop making excuses, and simply admit our need for His help, His grace will show up, overwhelm us, and change our condition.
God doesn’t reserve His power for the fittest or strongest among us. God’s power is available to everyone who will simply stop making excuses, and embrace His grace.
3. Jesus is better than an angel! You don’t have to wait for heaven to come down or send an angel. Your miracle is standing in front of you. It’s in Jesus.Here is the Good News for you! You have something better than an angel. You have the Savior. You have Jesus!
Are you stuck? Jesus sees you. He knows what you’re going through. He cares about you and wants to help you get out of that impossible place today.
There is far more God has for you than what you are experiencing right now…Far more blessing & breakthroughs; far more healing & hope.
It’s available to you right now. Just believe it. Receive it. And thank God that it’s yours! That’s faith. That’s grace. That’s how you get unstuck. That’s how the power flows!
A BREAKTHROUGH is available to you right now. Just believe it. Receive it. And thank God that it’s yours! That’s faith. That’s grace. That’s how you get unstuck. That’s how the power flows!