Just you wish something was different doesn’t always mean you really want it to change.
“One man was there who had been an invalid for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?'” -John 5:5-6
Don’t miss the profound truth of this little question: “Do you want to be healed?” It has been observed by many that Jesus does not force Himself on anyone. Rather, He makes a way, opens a door, issues an invitation. The question is, are we willing to admit our need and surrender the sense of control that comes from a defined, predictable way of life?
Not everyone is willing to step into the uncertain waters of faith because they don’t know what lies beneath. Life may be full of pain, but at least it’s predictable. There may be suffering, but at least there is certainty. Sometimes we may feel that we want to be free, but our will refuses to let go of the chains because the sickness has become part of our sense of who we are.
To want to be healed is often just as much about identity as it is about infirmity. It requires a willingness to let go of who we believe ourselves to be, and a total trust in the Jesus who extends His hand but does not always tell us who He will make us or where He will take us from here. He makes the offer. It’s up to you and me to accept it with faith.
It is not enough to wish things were better. You must ask yourself, do you want to be healed enough that you’re willing to follow Jesus into the unknown?
[NOTE: Part 2 of this article can be found here.]
