Do you want to get well? Healing often takes work. Hard work. Whether you are going through depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, or a physical illness, there IS hope. You can get well. Even though it may take hard work, it’s worth it. Do you want to be well?
Pool of Bethesda Sermon in John 5
I have really come to love the sermon in John 5 about the lame man at the pool of Bethesda. God has shared some insights with me as I have studied that passage over the years.
“Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.” (John 5:2-9 NASB)
I am a neuropsychologist with over 20 years of experience in private practice. People come to my office all the time seeking to get well from whatever ails them, whether it’s depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, concussion, strokes, seizure disorders, or some other medical or mental health issue. They all come to my office because something is going wrong in their life and they want to get well.
Jesus asked the lame man, “Do you want to get well?”
In the early stages of my career, I thought, “Jesus, that’s an interesting question that you would ask the lame man, ‘Do you want to get well?’” because in my mind, I would always think, “of course he did…he was at the pool, just waiting for someone to gently push him in so he could be healed.”
But the longer I have been in private practice, the more I have come to realize that the truth is that not everyone really does want to get well. Some people are more comfortable in their known discomfort than they are willing to risk the discomfort of the unknown to get well. Some are afraid of the unknown. Some people come to the pool but they just want to be seen in their sickness.
There are a few very important lessons from this passage.
5 Important Lessons on Healing from John 5
1.) The lame man exhibited great faith
First, scripture says that “whoever then stepped in first was made well.” The lame man couldn’t step in by himself, but he exhibited great faith because he stayed there waiting for his miracle to get healed.
2.) The lame man never gave up hope
Second, he had been waiting, ill for 38 years. Yet he never gave up hope that he would be made well.
I don’t know what you’re dealing with today. I don’t know what you’re praying for. I don’t know if you are dealing with a physical illness, a mental illness, a relationship in need of repair, financial strain, or some other area of your life that is in need of a miracle, but we can look to this man as an example. He didn’t give up for 38 years. That’s a long time to keep hoping in the Lord, but he didn’t give up, and he was ultimately rewarded for that because if he had given up and stopped coming to the pool, he wouldn’t have been there when Jesus was there and he wouldn’t have received his healing.
Even when the journey is long, never give up.
3.) Jesus knew the condition the man was in and He knows ours.
Third, Scripture says that when Jesus saw him lying there, He KNEW he had been in that condition. The lame man didn’t have to tell him. Jesus didn’t have to ask the doctors for the man’s medical history or report. Jesus knew. And Jesus knows our condition as well—we don’t have to tell Him, He knows.
He knows the condition that you’re in today. He loves it when we share with Him. He loves for us to come to Him in prayer, but He already knows. He knows you, He sees you. His heart breaks when your heart breaks.
He knows your condition. So often we try to hide our condition from Him. I did. There were things I didn’t want to tell the Lord; there were things I didn’t want to share with Him. There were things I was ashamed of. But at some point, I couldn’t take it anymore and it spilled out through my tearful cries. And then it was as if He whispered to my heart, “Finally you’re talking to me about it! I’ve known all along, I was just waiting for you to be willing to talk to me about it.”
4.) Did the lame man want to get well?
Fourth, Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well. While on the outside it would seem obvious that he should want to get well, so often we don’t really want to get well. Sometimes it takes hard work to get well. How do I know that?
5.) The lame man had to act first before healing came
Because, fifth, Jesus told him to do something FIRST (to get up, pick up his pallet and walk) and THEN he was made well. The lame man had to first exercise faith, and then he had to do the hard work on the way to getting his healing. Then he was rewarded and made well. It’s hard work sometimes, but God rewards obedience.
My heart is burdened right now because I know so many who are struggling in the pit of depression. I know many who are preparing to start the Hope Prevails Bible Study, the companion to my book Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression. My heart is burdened to pray for them because they are about to embark on a journey to healing, and do the hard work. But I’m so proud of them because they have gotten to the point where they are tired of the suffering that depression brings and they’ve raised their hand, even if it is just a little bit, to say “I’m ready to do the hard work.” I just know God is going to reward them for that and He is going to bring His help, and His hope, and His healing. God is going to do a mighty work in them just like He did for the lame man, and for me.
The lame man had a lot to give up by doing the hard work. In getting healed, he had to give up his identity as the Lame Man. If Jesus healed him, he would no longer be the lame man. He would no longer be pitied. He would no longer be taken care of. He could no longer live in that same crippled identity. He was going to have to get a job and work for a living. He would then have to live in his new, free identity in Christ.
There’s always a risk in getting well, but the payoff is beautiful.
Sometimes God calls us to do hard work before healing comes
Regardless of what you’re going through now, whether it’s depression, or anxiety, or relationship difficulties, or financial or job difficulties, there is help and there is hope, but sometimes God calls us to do the hard work before we see the manifestation of our healing.
If you’re willing to do the hard work, He will bless it! But the first and hardest question you must answer is: Do you want to get well?
Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Hope-filled Resources for healing from depression.
Available now through book retailers!
Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the new companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand: how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.
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Thank you so much for that wisdom!! I’ve been on my own journey to “get well”… to wean off some meds for anxiety and sleeplessness… you’re right – you have to want it! I am so glad that when I do my best, God does the rest, and that we have hope in Him!!
“Do you want to get well?” That question in the passage intrigued me too. But it is a good one to ask ourselves. And if not, why not? I enjoyed your thoughts today.
I never thought there were people who did not want to get well. But there are. I have seen some who are just fascinated by the attention, illness brings. Not to the point of Munchhausen, to make their children sick or themselves sick, yet doing it un wittingly, by not receiving healing. My concern is when the spirit is gone from a person, the house not swept, they are worse than before. I wrote a post about this, the pool was like a mikvah bath. Jesus has already cleansed us a believers, take up our mat or rest of Hebrews 4 and go, be made whole in His holy name.
Beautiful message, Michelle. ♥
Thanks Brenda. I appreciate you stopping by!
Beautiful. I enjoyed your video as well. I have a close friend going through this, I have walked it, and now am walking through it with another close relative. I appreciate this book so much.
I’m so sorry you have close ones going through it Meg, but am grateful to hear that you are there for them. Hugs.
wonderful wisdom. I have dealt with some grief the last year, and as I worked through it I struggled with parting from that grief being part of my identity, and leaving that behind. This makes a lot of sense.
I’m so sorry to hear of your season of grief Kelsey. I pray you experience His comfort during this time.
You’ve shared such wonderful insights into this passage! I’ve been on my own path of facing fear and have discovered it’s a determined choice to step out in faith and learn how to trust in God when stepping out feels uncomfortable and scary. He is always faithful to lead us.
It is difficult to step out on the path of faith rather than shrink back in fear. But always worth it when we see the good change.
I really appreciate the question, “Do you want to get well?” It’s so true that sometimes we want things to be miraculously better without the hard work and painful process of God working in us.
Yes, so true Donna. But God working in us is what makes all the difference.
I am in the process right now “getting well” from total knee replacement and it is hard work. As I read your post I thought, ok, Betty, you need to get off this computer and work those exercise, it’s almost nine in the morning and you have been up about three hours and not done them yet. I usually do not open my computer till I do them but today I needed to get an email out early and bingo, my fingers went right to blog world. Ok, I’m off…back to healing.
So glad you convinced yourself you’re worth it Betty! Keep doing the hard work. Healing is yours!
This is so true! This question is so important. I’ve had to ask this many times of those folks I work with in ministry. Love this! Sharing! Blessings!
Bonnie,
It can be a hard question for some to answer honestly. But it’s the only way we will get to our healing.
I love these words —->Jesus knew. And Jesus knows our condition as well—we don’t have to tell Him, He knows.
So reassuring! Thank you for your words.
Mary, aren’t we grateful to know Jesus knows. And He doesn’t condemn. He loves us and He waits for us. Blessings to you.
So very true!
Thanks for stopping by Anita! Always love seeing your smiling face!
This is so true. I am in health and wellness and I often find that people seem to not even want to get well. I loved how you used this story to draw out truths for us.
Thanks for stopping by Amy. That’s hard for me as a mental health provider too–sometimes I think I want them well more than they want it for themselves. I’m grateful God is patient with us.
I too love the story of the lame man at the pool. It took me walking through some stuff to fully grasp it or maybe I should say accept it. I struggle with watching loved ones remain where they are when help is right there or choices that would make them feel better are not taken. Yet, I do not walk in their shoes so I have no idea how difficult it is to make a chance. What I see as slight may be huge for them. So I accept and gently try to nudge them in the way of healing.
I too once got so used to a difficult routine that it became “my normal.” When it was time for progress and to move forward I was the one dragging. After all I was used to this and the unknown was frightening. But I came to my senses and grabbed Gods hand and moved forward alone with my loved one on the journey to healing.
Thank you for sharing your post. This is a story I not only love but also grapple with in caring for loved ones with a mental illness.
It is so hard when we see loved ones struggling. But in truth, we can’t do the work for them. They have to want it, then we can support, love, and encourage.
Only Father could have had this blog posted today when there is such great need for healing and for asking this pointed question “Do you want to be healed?” I know you want to be healed and I know that you will be healed. I do have confidence in the Lord that your healing will be complete. Thank you for these 5 important lessons on healing!! I love and appreciate you so much!! Praying believing and expecting for your healing!!
I needed just this passage today. It is a sacred echo of what God has been teaching me. Thank you. laurensparks.net
Michelle, your insights are always so helpful. I love the way you teach in terms that are accessible yet thorough.
Thanks for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!