Thank God I am disabled

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He waited 38 years in hope.  He could have left, but he didn’t.

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Many suffer daily of some affliction.

They need God’s deliverance, and help.

But God is sovereign, and has His own timing.

Why so long, Lord? Why so long?

Waiting years for a healing or deliverance can be discouraging, and the soul becomes weary of waiting.

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Life is passing by, and there seems to be no change or help coming.

What is wrong?

So many people give up after a short time. They do not endure to the very end.

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Some miracles take a very long time.

Are you willing to wait, or will you give up?

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The man who waited 38 years

Jhn 5:2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

Jhn 5:3   In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

Jhn 5:4   For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

Jhn 5:5   And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

Jhn 5:6   When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Jhn 5:7   The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me.

Jhn 5:8   Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Jhn 5:9   And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

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This man was brought there and left. He most likely waited all day, each day.

Maybe someone brought him there, and just left him for long periods, and came back when they felt like it.

No one was willing to stay with him, to wait with him for the pool to be agitated by the healing angel.

So, each time there was a chance for a miracle, he could not get in the pool fast enough.

He had no one to help him.

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Years and years passed.

A lifetime passed.

He was old now.

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Sounds like many of us. No one to help.

We are all alone.

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But he kept hoping for a chance someday.

He never left the pool, where God sent an angel to bring the presence of God into the area.

He could have left and given up, but he didn’t.

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So, for 38 years, he spent time each day in the presence of God, watching miracles, and waiting for his time.

There was something wonderful about the pool of healing, and God’s presence.

He wanted to stay. It was wonderful there.

There was no physical benefit, but the miracles must have been exciting.

He kept coming back, day after day.

He was blessed more than he realized.

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But one day, his patience and faithfulness would pay off.

While he waited for a chance to get closer to God, God got closer to Him.

Jesus showed up and healed Him.

This nameless man, that no one helped, had just come face to face with his Messiah.

He walked away a new man.

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While he waited for contact with physical water, he received the waters of eternal life.

And with this, came his healing.

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Marianne’s Application

For the past 10 years, I have had time at my own pool.

I hope, and pray, and wait, and nothing happens.

Day by day, I deal with my limitations.

In many ways, I am crippled.

Arthritis, bone fractures, limping around. Cannot stand or move well.

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Total exhaustion daily.

In a state of total collapse, most of every day.

No one helps.

Doctors are useless.

Pain is constant, and movement is limited.

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Yet, I do not look at today.

I look at the day that Jesus will come.

As I sit amazed at the miracles of life which occur daily, my soul grows stronger.

Being disabled keeps me in the presence of the Lord.

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Before all this, I was busy and active in the world.

I spent little time with God, because I had so much to do.

Everything I have worked for, and my busy-ness, was motivated by the desire to have happiness, joy and fulfillment in my life.

But, the only way to have what I really wanted was to leave the world behind me.

Since I did not do this on my own, God did it for me.

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In one day, the world was gone from my life, and suddenly, there was nothing but God left.

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Now, I spend all my time with Him.

How amazing.

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I have now the kingdom of God within me.

And now, ALL that I wanted from the world is provided to me, without even working for it.

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It has been a humbling experience.

I thought I had to work for my happiness and provision.

But in fact, God had it there, waiting for me.

All I had to do was wait by the pool, and He would show up.

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Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

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Spend time at the pool.

The presence and kingdom of God is there.