“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 5:6 (NIV)
Why would Jesus ask this question? “Do you want to get well?” Of course, he did. Didn’t he?
This scripture takes me back to my struggle with weight and body image. I needed, I desired, I prayed for, healing of my relationship with food and my body. I wanted nothing more than to be set free from this mental, spiritual, and physical struggle. But I looked to diets, gimmicks, and quick fixes. I put my hope in the false promises made by these things instead of the power of the Holy Spirit that was available to me if I’d only say yes to the Lord.
In some ways, I had gotten comfortable in my struggle. It had become my identity. I was a loner whose life’s purpose was to pursue weight loss at all costs. Even if it didn’t work, at least I could say I was on a diet. (Let’s face it, some people think that dieting is a badge of honor. If you’re not white-knuckling your way through the day, are you even taking care of yourself?)
I’ve tried all the diets. Nothing seems to work.
I needed healing in my spirit and my mind. Little did I know that if I allowed God to touch me and truly make me well, then I would learn how to live a healthy life without the struggle, without the loneliness and insecurity. And without the need to white knuckle my way through every single day.
Back to the Lord’s question: “Do you want to get well?” Like the man, instead of a resounding yes, my first response was, “I’ve tried all the diets. Nothing seems to work.”
Why hadn’t my efforts worked? I hadn’t tapped into the power of the Holy Spirit. I hadn’t allowed the Lord to heal this part of me—until I did. Until I responded with a YES and obeyed when He said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
Get up! Pick up your mat and …
Essentially, He was saying move on from that place where I’d gotten comfortable (my mat was a life of dieting) and take a step of faith. Be healed from this struggle, from this obsession with my weight, and walk into freedom that only the Lord can provide.
Action Step
Do you want to get well? Instead of putting your hope in external circumstances, put your hope in Jesus. Reply to Him with a confident YES, then let Him touch you with His healing power and set you free.
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