“Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” (John 5:2-6)
I’ve often thought to myself, if this man had been an invalid for thirty-eight years, of course he wanted to get well. Did Jesus really need to ask?
Prior to giving my eating disorder over to God, I believe Jesus was asking me this very same question—Rae Lynn, do you want to get well?
Because eating disorders are self-inflicted and secretive in nature, they are extremely difficult to treat and overcome. In my case, bulimia had been part of my every day life for so long I couldn’t imagine life without it.
Sometimes when we have been in bondage for a very long time we may think it is easier to continue life the way it is, rather than allow God to heal us.
I have since come to believe that when Jesus asks the question, “Do you want to get well?” He is really asking, “Are you willing to give your problem completely over to me, and are you ready to make the necessary changes in your life in order to experience my healing?”
Essentially, He’s asking if we are prepared to accept the many life challenges that will arise once healing begins. We must to be spiritually receptive and ready for Jesus’ divine, healing touch.
What about you?
Is there some area of your life that needs God’s healing touch?
Whether you are struggling to overcome some type of bondage or are simply in need of letting go, surrender all to Jesus. You are in very good hands.
This is exactly the Scripture (and principle) I was thinking through tonight as I considered what I wanted to write about next on wellness…so true that we must want to get well in order to receive and walk in it.