Pressing Forward in Difficult Times

             The story is told of Jesus entering  Jerusalem, after the feast of the Jews. Now there  is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda , having five porch. In these  lay a great multitude of sick people blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.(John5:2-3 ). The name of the pool derived form the Hebrew  which means house of mercy or house of grace. It was a place of disgrace due to the condition of the illness that was seem there on a daily base. The place have five porches that each day people would wait for the an angel to come down at a certain time into the pool and stirred  up the water, then whoever stepped  in first, after would receive their healing. Jesus entered   bye the sheep gate at that time, this was called the Sheep Gate, because it was where sheep were brought to the Temple for sacrifice. It is now the Lamb of God that enters through that gate to offer healing to this man of thirty-eight  years.

The story continues with Jesus asking the man "Do you want to be made whole/well?". This man avoided  the question and immediately begun to give excuses, why he could not get well. Today issues

of life can leave us stress, depress, and ill with so many uncertain times. It is easy to sit back and wait for a miracle to happen in ones life . We must understand  at the pool there were others there with issues, and all were waiting for the moving of the water. But out of all those there Jesus chose him to set up for a blessing. Maybe it wasn't because his faith was stronger than anyone else, or he was so righteous than others. It could have been that God grace was being usher in for  all mankind. And Jesus went to the

least of them to show us today no matter  what we are going through in life that Gods, healing grace is sufficient.

After all of his excuses, Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed and walk." (John,5:8-9). Each facet of our human nature is being tried today. One may be feeling well in their body, but the mind and spirit is being tested. It is not enough

just to be strong in one area and the rest of our life is hurting. Today the question  is still being asked will you be made whole? What your excuse!

Prayer:" God grant us the wisdom and understanding  to move pass those things that are stressing us out. And heal our body, mind and spirit that we can handle the issues of this present day life!

                In God’s presence, in the shelter of the Most High, we can be ourselves.  Why shouldn’t we, though?  He created us and already knows everything about us.  So what, then, does He want from us?  He wants our attention to His voice and our participation in His plan.  Whatever else is needed in our lives will be provided…in the shadow of the Almighty.