John 5: 1-9
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,[a] having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 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.
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt helpless? I mean literary unable to do anything about the situation; incapable of effecting a change. We all have been there at some point. The feelings associated with such a state is that of anger, frustration, fear, panic, sadness, depression, gloom, you name it.
Whenever I ponder on the helpless state of the man at the pool of Bethesda, I wonder where his helpers were. At least someone brought him to that pool and abandoned him there; apparently they were not willing to stick around to help him further – and I do not judge them, because who knows, given their own challenges, it was the best they could do at the time.
This however, begins to paint a picture about the realities of life. The help of man is limited. Sometimes in life we get to appoint where we cannot help ourselves, and no man is able to help us either. Our friends, neighbors, colleagues, etc. either get busy with life, or are so overwhelmed by their own challenges that they cannot stick around to help us further. We begin to entertain panic, fear, anger, frustration, etc.
At such times, may we remember that Jesus is the helper of the helpless. Psalms 72:12 says that God will deliver the needy, and him who has no helper. Is it not comforting to know that there is a God who helps the helpless? HE is not limited in abilities, His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power has no boundaries.
The truth is that He does not only see our helplessness, but also willing to do something about it. When HE brought help to this man at the pool of Bethesda, it was instant, and a positive change was effected immediately!
Are you needy, and have no help? Are you completely incapable of effecting a change? Well, congratulations! You qualify for His help. All you need to do is reach out and ask for His help – He will turn your sorrows into joy.
Give them all, give them all, give them all to Jesus
Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys,
Give them all, give them all, give them all to Jesus
And he will turn your sorrow into joy