John 5:2-8 recounts the healing of a man Jesus encountered at the Pool of Bethesda. The man was disabled and could not get into the pool fast enough when the healing spirit stirred the waters. He was feeling sorry for himself and voiced his complaint to Jesus when Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. “Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. ³ In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. ⁵ One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” ⁷ The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.”

As I meditated on this story, I asked myself what am I not doing because I expect others to do it for me? Am I not exercising because I don’t have anyone to walk with me? (Boy that really hits home.) Am I not serving because I feel the jobs they need done are not enough or maybe they won’t miss me if I’m not there? Am I not calling or visiting friends because I am too busy? Do I want to let someone else visit or call who has more time? Jesus wants us to identify our needs and ask Him. Go to the source for help and not blame inactivity on circumstances or others. Jesus says when we have needs to ask Him. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” It is our responsibility to ask our heavenly Father when we have needs. I also want to add in James 4:3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” When we ask, we need to consider why we are asking, is our motivation godly or pure and unselfish? God won’t just give us what we want, especially if we are asking with the wrong heart attitude.

The man in this story had a need and asked Jesus for help. Jesus answered him directly with his command- take up your bed and walk! What do you need to ask Jesus about? Whether it is motivational, spiritual, or physical, Jesus has the answer and will answer. You may have to wait (hard part) but Jesus promises to answer our prayers. If His answer is ‘NO’, then we need to trust in His plans for the future and cling to Him. Psalm 4:3 “But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.” Call upon Him. He has the answers to all our needs.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can ask my heavenly Father to meet my needs with confidence and hope, knowing He will answer.

Linda