I will take a break in our current series, “Journey to the Heart of God Through Prayer,” in order to share this article with you.
I had just finished my day job and had approximately 30 minutes before starting my online class. I made a quick stop at one of the stores in my neighborhood in order to pick up a few items before class. As I placed the items in the shopping cart and made way to the register, I noticed how long the line was.
I waited patiently for my turn to check out. As I looked at how many people were ahead of me, I silently wondered, “Will I make it home in time to start my online class?”
At that moment of wondering, I heard the sweetest words, “Starting with this lady, please go to Register 2.”
And just like that, I was next in line!
Because of that intervention of what I called favor, I was able to purchase the items and make it home in time to begin my online class.
Are you looking at your current situation and wondering if you, too, are going to make it? Are you wondering how you are going to make it?
Let’s examine a portion of Scripture from John 5:1-9, glean strength and draw faith from another person’s encounter with God.
A Man Healed at the Pool of Bathesda
“After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made 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, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.”
At this pool, in Bethesda, there was a great multitude of people who was waiting for something. Although my condition was entirely different, I, too, was in the waiting process. The multitude was waiting for the stirring of the waiter; while I was waiting for my turn to get checked out so that I could get home in time to begin my class.
While waiting, the unexpected happened! The unexpected happened for both the man who was lying by the pool and for me.
What were the hindrances?
According to the man by the pool, he stated that he had no one to put him into the pool when the water is stirred up. He also mentioned that while he was coming, another person steps down before him. Thus, preventing him from receiving his healing or breakthrough.
As I waited on line, I couldn’t help but to count how many people were ahead of me and for some, I also notice how their shopping carts were filled with items?
Will I make it home in time? That was the pressing question that I had.
The unexpected happened for the man at the pool when Jesus appeared on the scene and asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” And then the command, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Notice how the man’s condition changed. “Immediately the man was made well and he took up his bed and walked.”
My situation changed immediately when the sales person came to where I was standing and announced, “Starting with this lady, please go to Register 2.”
I didn’t doubt her. Neither did I question whether she was referring to me. I didn’t wonder if I was the lady.
Immediately, I pushed my shopping cart to Register 2 and just like that, I was next in line!
Like the man at the pool and me, you are probably desperately waiting for your situation to change. Don’t give up! At any time now, you, too, might be the next in line when favor shows up and create a new path or blessing for you.
You never know how things are going to turn in your favor. The man by the pool did not know that he was going to encounter Jesus that day. In fact, he was waiting on the angel to stir the water. Likewise, I did not know that another register would be opening soon and that I was going to be first in line.
Remain expectant and believe that your situation will change for your good!
You are next in line!
We will continue with our series, “Journey to the Heart of God Through Prayer,” in February 2025.