One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” (John 5:5-7)
Read: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21, John 5:1-23, Psalm 105:37-45, Proverbs 14:28-29
Relate: A while back I read about a woman who was browsing in a small country store when she came across a small wall picture asking a question that stuck with her: “If you knew that you would not fail, what would you attempt?” That question didn’t just stick with her, once I read it, it stuck with me. For days that question bounced around inside my head. It stirred up a sense of wonder and hope. A few other questions came stirring up to the surface as well: What are my dreams? How can I live for a bigger purpose? What could God do through me if I truly began to understand just how great He is? It was almost as if an angel were troubling the deep waters in my soul… but I didn’t dive in.
Jesus asked an impossible question to the man by that poolside. “Do you want to get well?” Like me, that man didn’t directly answer. Oh yes, of course he wanted to get well. He dreamed of getting well. He yearned for it. I can imagine him waking up in the morning after dreaming of being whole, only to find he was stuck back in the same situation as always. He was still lame. You see, being healed, being whole… that is the stuff of dreams. It is for those what if moments that sometimes must overtake us. But we can’t live there. We have to get back to reality. Reality is that I will never walk. Reality is that I will never be whole. Reality is that I will not be healed. So Jesus asks a question of desire, and the man answers with a statement of reality. “I can’t.”
React: Jesus is the author of a greater reality. So what are my dreams? What are my passions? Who put them there? Why do I have them? What are those things I’ve given up on ever getting better? Where have I settled when God wants more? A couple years back, and for all my life up to that point I had given up on ever being free of asthma. It was just a fact of my life. Breathing freely and fully just wasn’t for me. But Jesus was the author of a greater reality. Where I knew pain, I now know freedom. I slept with a cat on my chest. I spent a good thirty minutes petting and playing with a few dobermans. I spent a week in the home that had both cats and dogs. These things were once impossible. Now I have been healed. If He has done that for me, what else can He do? It is time to dream bigger. God wants to do the impossible. Will we walk that road with Him? Will we rise? Or are we stuck in the depressing “reality” of pragmatism?
Respond:
Dear God,
Help me to dream. You are the author of impossible realities. My healing is not too great for You. My wholeness is not too great for You. My dreams… are simply an opportunity for You to display Your greatness. Help me to dream bigger. Then help me to walk in them. You have called me for so much more. You have called me to greater things. Let those things become reality. Help me to ask for the impossible.
THE RIVER WALK 
Encouraging, uplifting post! Thank you so much. Indeed, what could stop us in anything if we looked to the Greater Reality and knew we could not fail.
Just what I needed to read this morning! Very encouraging – thank you.
What I would do if I knew I couldn’t fail? – Stuck with me too…. I lot of things I could list! Thank you for that reminder that all things are possible through him!!!
This is wonderfully inspiring, thank you
“Do you want to get well?” You say, of course he wanted to get well; I’m not so sure. That question has niggled me…or had…for decades. I had bipolar disorder and wondered what being “well” would be like. Would it be better? Would more be expected of me?
Finally, after losing everything, I had no reason to say, “no.” I prayed to be cured, healed, extricated from bipolar disorder…not the symptoms; not the side-effects; the disorder.
I am now off of all bipolar medication. I watch my energy levels and adjust my activities and expectations accordingly. I know when a purchase is ill-advised…or was. (I’m not perfect.) But when I experience loss or hardship, I am no longer derailed by it. I am no longer controlled by bipolar disorder and for me, that is huge.
The priest at church last week talked about dreams. He pointed out that dreams are worthwhile but only if there is a means by which the dream can come true. He even believes buying a single lottery ticket is worthwhile because the purchaser has just as much of a chance as anyone else. And that is true. Plus, for a few days before the lottery is drawn, that person can dream, “What would I do with 180 million dollars?” I have been there: I have done that. And it does give one, if only temporary, hope.
I sent an email to that priest last week. I did not enumerate the dozen or more dreams I have had over the 60 years of my life…dreams which have shriveled up and blown away. But I did relate that one dream…to live alone; simply; on water; surrounded with flowers, birds, plants and herbs, wildlife, etc….never made it to my annual list of “things I wanted to have, be or do” because I never thought I would have the means to gain it. Well, after I lost everything last year, my brother said, “You know, I have that 60-year-old trailer on the lake in South Carolina…”
To Kitsy, love the outcome of your story. You never know how God will make a dream come true.
Readers…Miracles have never ceased. How is your belief ? Do you have that conviction to see your self changed as mentioned here? If you have an illness, cry out to Jesus and let the enemy know you will not accept it. Show passion! Follow Him. If your religion is not energizing, try another church. Your life will never be the same. I know, I followed these steps and Jesus healed me and I am so thankful. This is beautiful, TwoRivers, thank you!
I just spoke on this topic at a Women’s conference. It’s so cool to hear the Holy Spirit say the exact same thing through another person that He spoke through you! It just goes to show that God has a plan to lead His bride into maturity. Thanks for sharing!
Lately I have been taking pictures of a hummingbird. Today was my first day of counseling, and when I returned home, my husband said the hummingbird means, Enlightened. I was enlightened today in my counseling session, I want healing, and Jesus is. Thank you for your post, it’s nice to know I am not alone in this.
So glad reading this ❤
Reblogged this on ChristianBlessings and commented:
O ye of little faith ! If we do not ask we do not get. If we do not ask for the extension of our tents we could remain in our rut for the rest of our lives. That is the enemy’s wish – for us to be comfortably content. BUT GOD wants us to experience His wonderful working in our lives to reach our fullest potential. Let us do it for Jesus and in Jesus. Amen.
Very good, thanks.
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Reblogged this on Daunting Facts of Christianity and commented:
JESUS is the Author of a greater reality. GOD is set to do the impossible!
This post is very encouraging and I have been experiencing the building up in my spirit. Excitement for what God is doing. Not absolutely sure of all the details, but I know He is at work in my life. I am in a new phase in my life and believe that God is faithful to restore what the “locusts have eaten.” What’s more interesting is that when it comes, it is more awesome than we ever expected. Thank you for sharing.
I love everything that is written on this blog! Very inspiring. 🙂 Thanks for utilizing this venue in sharing Jesus and the Bible. God bless!
It was a great pleasure to sit a spell and read through your work today.
Our son has a vision problem, Retinitis Pigmentosa from birth. His eye vision is limited but his vision for himself unlimited, he will be soon completing his PhD in English Literature from one of the top universities in our country. Thank you and regards.
Praise the Lord mukhamani, living in India, turmeric is a popular spice, but also helpful for the eyes, they are researching this as a treatment for RP, and also vitamin A palmitate 15,000 IU daily slows RP progression..I have an uncle with RP.. and God’s creations can be a blessing for healing..
We use turmeric daily in our food, I must follow up on what you said, thank you so much.
no dream is impossible with GOD on our side
Great post!
I love this: “Jesus is the author of a greater reality.” He rewrote our destinies of separation from God forever by dying for us so that we could return to Heaven.
Powerful work. Thank you.
Netflix has 3 (those we have found so far!) life changing movies: The Finger of God, Holy Ghost, and Furious Love. All challenge me to go to the streets and bring the love of Jesus, pray for healing, pray for release from posession, expect miracles. This will be my and my husband’s next season! This is the adventure we’re called to.
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Pressing this!
Read your thoughts and I feel repentant. I am a Christian back slider. Anand Bose from Kerala