Do You Feel Stuck? by Pastor Brent Lokker

There’s a man described in the Bible (in John 5) who had an illness for 38 years that made it impossible for him to walk. Day after day he would somehow drag his way to sit near a special pool called Bethesda. What made this particular pool so special is that an angel of God would occasionally come and stir up the water of the pool. Whoever was the first to get into the water after the stirring would be healed. Because of this, hundreds of sick, blind, lame and paralyzed people were milling about wanting to be the first one in.

The major dilemma this ill man finds himself in is this: he can’t walk and he has no one there with him to put him into the pool. He’s so very close to an apparent healing to his physical body, yet there might as well be a 10-foot high stone wall between him and the water because he can’t get there when he needs to.

How often do we feel stuck in life because we see only one solution to a problem and what looks like an insurmountable barrier in the way? We look at our own limited resources and can’t seem to reason out a way to fix it. It’s in these times we can feel very much like a victim to our circumstances--frustrated and, at times, afraid to the core of our being.

Jesus walks up to this man, obviously aware of his need for healing and the dilemma he finds himself in. He asks the man, “Would you like to get well?”

The man is only thinking of his one solution, so his response indicates he thinks Jesus might be the one to pick him up and put him in the water after it’s stirred. He clearly doesn’t know he’s talking to the miracle maker and Son of God. But Jesus didn’t come to be what this man viewed him as (a strong body to lift him to the water at the appropriate time). Instead, Jesus confidently told him, “Stand up, roll up your sleeping mat and walk on home!”

In effect, Jesus was saying, “I AM who I AM! And I AM your Solution! I’m not giving you what you think you need—I’m giving you what the Father has determined you should have. You were looking for the old way things used to be done. I am here to show you my Father’s Kingdom—a new reality you never knew existed.”

Instantly, the man was healed!! He rolled up the mat and began walking!

Jesus is a Savior in every aspect of our lives. He came to make wrong things right again. When you feel stuck, it’s good and right to tell him about it. Just understand that his response will often come in a very different form that what you thought you needed. God’s perfect timing is involved and what our powerful and loving Shepherd will do for us will be something above and beyond what we were even asking for.

This Saturday night at Blazing Fire Church we’ll be inviting Jesus, the miracle maker, to be Himself and to touch those who need healing. Come, not expecting that He will do exactly what you think He should, but that He will do immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine. Look not to the solution you’ve determined you need, but look into the eyes of the One who IS your Solution and is making all things right and new again.

Jesus knows what you’re going through—He’s here with you and for you—and He IS your answer!