Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. (John 5:8–9)
Expanded Passage: John 5:8-9
Have you ever sensed that what you needed was just a moment—or a decision—away? Many years ago, a friend offered me a job selling custom cabinets installed over media niches in homes. It was innovative, it was exciting—and it was commission-based! I turned him down to take a safe, nine-to-five job instead. The rest, as they say, is history.
I ran into him just a year later, and the update he gave me about his new company was devastating (for me, anyway)! His new sales rep was making more money than he knew what to do with—the cabinets were practically selling themselves. The average commissions paid more in one month than I was making in four. Needless to say, my fear had really cost me a great opportunity.
Consider the healing of the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda. Imagine if, when Jesus told him to get up and walk, the man had replied: “Jesus, I’d really like to—but I’m afraid! I’ve been crippled for so long. I just can’t.” His story would have a much different ending.
We will never have a shortage of reasons to not trust God. Fear has a way of convincing us we can’t, or we shouldn’t, or we’ll fail, or ____? If God is calling us, will we trust him and seize the moment? Our healing awaits!
Ask God where you haven’t trusted him—but need to.
Jareb Collins is a senior pastor in Warrenton, Missouri, in the Tri-State District of The Wesleyan Church, and the author of Handbook for the Broken Hearted.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
