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It has been two weeks since my last blog post. I have been really struggling over the past several weeks. I’ve been overly tired, unmotivated, and disheartened. Getting through each day was a chore in itself, so coming to my laptop to write has been a struggle. I tested positive for Covid this past week, which explained a lot of how I’ve been feeling lately, and today I thought I would share a little from my heart.

Have you seen the series, The Chosen? It is a wonderful production of the life of Christ and his followers, done in a way that I have never seen before. They bring to life the men and women who followed Jesus, leaving their families and homes behind, becoming part of something much greater than themselves. It had never really occurred to me that these men, such as Matthew and Peter, may have know each other prior to Jesus, and the series brings this dynamic to life in such a powerful way! Matthew, after all was a tax collector, and Peter, James, John, all Jews, who paid taxes. Now, they find themselves travel mates, living and working together, traveling from town to town with Jesus, spreading his good news.

In season 2 episode 4, Jesus visits Jerusalem and the pool of Bethesda. The gospel of John records the scene, “After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda which has five roofed colonnades.  In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 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?” 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.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.”

I have read this many times over the years, but this episode really showed this in a new light! The paralyzed man had been laying next to this pool for 38 years! What desperation, discouragement, pain, loneliness, he must have suffered during those many years! He did not have the power to heal himself. He didn’t even have the power to pull himself into the pool when the water was stirred. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, the others would rush the water, trampling over him and any hope that he may have had. Oh, how I can relate! How many times, have I attempted to “heal” myself of what ails me—my problems—my struggles—my temptations! My dad was never able to conquer those same demons, and in the end, his struggles took his life. But all the man at the pool needed—all I need—all you need—is to answer Jesus when he asks, “Do you want to be healed?”

So dear friends, as you navigate this next day, week, month, and year of your life, put aside your own efforts to “fix” what is broken. Look only to Him and His power, His glory, and accept His healing. It is not your job to drag yourself into the pool. You only need look to Him who seeks you. Jesus went to the pool that day, knowing whom He was seeking. He seeks you today, just the same! Will you accept His hand? Do you want to be healed?