Speaker: Darlene Sala | Series: Encouraging Words | The man had been lame for thirty-eight years—so lame that although he lay right by the Pool of Bethesda, he couldn’t get himself into the waters. “When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, ‘Would you like to get well?’” (John 5:6 NLT).

How would you expect the man to answer?  Yes, of course, he would like to get well! Thirty-eight years is a long time to be dependent on others. But notice that’s not how the man answered.

“I can’t, sir,” the sick man said. Then he explained, “I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me” (v. 7). The lame man knew only one way he could be made well and that was by the healing waters of the Pool of Bethesda.  Getting into that pool was for him an impossibility, so he had no hope.  That is, until Jesus came by.  Jesus brought him hope and healing. He told the man, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” Think about that for a moment. Jesus told him to do three things he couldn’t do: he couldn’t stand up, he couldn’t pick up his mat, and he couldn’t walk—at least not until Jesus brought healing. But instantly, the man was healed and began walking! God met his deep need!

Is there something you’ve been wanting to do, but it seems so impossible that you’ve lost hope? You’ve been saying, “I can’t. It’s just not possible!” Have you considered that Jesus might answer your need in a totally different way than you think He will? Reach out to Him in faith today.  Let Him decide how He will meet your need, and then wait to see how He answers.