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| Soaring with Jesus - When Hope's Not Sure |
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My pastor recently shared a profound statement he heard, “The time it takes is the time it takes.” We can all relate to desolate times in our lives--times when God doesn’t feel present.
This morning I was reading in my Bible, John 5:1-15. There the disciple John, a man very close to Jesus, tells of a time that he went with Jesus to what was known, in those times, as somewhat of a "magical" pool. It was said that at certain times when the water was stirred up that if one made it to the water in time, that one person would be healed of any sickness he or she might have. Well, this one man had been there for years. He couldn't walk anymore and just laid near the water on his mat with what must have been hardly an ounce of hope left after 38 years of hoping. One day, Jesus came to the pool of water, and John lays out an amazing story.
Jesus knew how long the man had been there. Whether it was common knowledge or amazing insight is insignificant. The fact is Jesus cared about this man's situation and asked him if he wanted to be healed. I can imagine if I were the man, I might respond somewhat sarcastic, "Ya...but look at me. Know one cares enough to stay with me and help me get there when the water stirs. I'm hopelessly bound to this mat! All the rest of my friends here get healed except me."
Notice he didn't ask Jesus to heal him. Did he know Jesus' reputation? Was the man in such a hopeless situation that even he didn't believe anyone could heal him? Had he accepted his sickness as life's allotment? Jesus did care and asked the man if he wanted to be healed. Jesus then told him to take up his mat and walk. That may seem like a dumb thing to say to a man that just told Jesus it was hopeless, but there must have been just one small glimpse of hope still left in the man. Because he did what Jesus asked, God healed him without even touching the water.
We may feel like our situation is utterly hopeless, "it's been like this for years. I get close, but it doesn’t happen?" Being "close" may simply mean that we don't give up the hope that is within us, even if hope seems dormant or doesn't exist anymore. It may mean that we get as close as we can to the source of that hope--Jesus--as we possibly can in our "crippled condition." I know that when we do, God will meet us there where his healing takes place. “The time it takes is the time it takes.”
“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8
LaurieC
redeemermin.com |
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| December 29, 2008 |
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| Simply awesome! |
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| December 30, 2008 |
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Before a miracle was a conversation. This person was alone in a crowd, not worth "investing" time to, of little value. So a conversation was something to this man. Not a god-can-do-anything conversation but an I can't do anything one. This man was honest with his feelings. He was also wrong. For he was convinced that his hope lay in someone else. If only someone would help him when the waters were stirred. But help never came.
This man knew what he needed, how it would happen, and waited for his script to be played out. Well, the man did get what he needed but it did not happen "right" and did not follow his script. His healing came unexpectantly as he simply followed a stranger's (read rest of chapter) instruction to do what he could not.
Outside (and sometimes in) the church today are many invalids. Invalidated by life or experience, a careless or critical word, a terrible wrong or tragic loss. People who once reflected the glory of the Lord who now lay on their mats wishing for help to get back what they once had. If only they can get to the right seminar, revival, or special concert they can revive what once was. If only someone cared enough to help them get to where they needed to be.
Psalm 142:4 I looked on my right hand and beheld, but there was no man that would know me, refuge failed me, no man cared for my soul.
As years pass hope fades and then disappears. The invalid is locked in to their hopelessness and despair.
Proverbs 18:19 A brother (or sister) offended (hurt, angry) is harder to be won (back) than a strong city (well defended); for his contentions (reasons, arguments) are like the bars of a castle (impenetrable).
When we are hurt we tend to put up walls. The more often or deeply we are hurt the more elaborate and bigger the walls. Over time we are surrounded inside our own little castles with bars on the windows. Now we cannot be hurt, no one can get to us. The only problem is that your castle is also your prison.
Hebrews 4:15a For we have not a high priest (JESUS) which cannot (CAN) be touched with the feeling (FEEL) of our infirmities (OUR HURTS).....
In the midst of hopelessness, in the midst of the lonely grief, into the time of overwhelming why, Jesus comes. Not with many words or a great miracle. But He listens and then instructs us to do something simple. And as we obey in the simple the miracle unexpectantly happens.
For one it may be simply go to church. For another it may be forgive. For someone else it may be cry. The beauty of Jesus in our hopelessness is that He comes to each of us individually right where we are and speaks a word to our individual situation. The tragedy is when we ignore His words as we continue to wait for our answer.
.....peace..... |
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