How can John 5:6 inspire us to seek God's will in our struggles? Setting the Scene “When Jesus saw him lying there and realized that he had spent a long time in this condition, He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” (John 5:6) The pool of Bethesda was crowded with people longing for healing, yet Jesus focused on one man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. With a single question, He exposed the man’s deepest need and invited him into God’s transforming will. Seeing Ourselves in the Lame Man • Long-term struggles can leave us resigned to misery, just as years of paralysis did for this man. • We, too, can grow comfortable with our limitations, assuming change is impossible. • Jesus’ question challenges any passivity in our hearts: “Do you want to get well?” Jesus’ Question and God’s Will • Desire Matters: God often begins His work by awakening genuine desire in us (Psalm 37:4). • Personal Encounter: The Lord seeks relationship, not a mechanical fix; His will is relational (Jeremiah 29:13). • Invitation to Faith: The man’s healing hinged on trusting Jesus’ command to “Get up” (John 5:8). Our struggles can similarly become platforms for obedient faith. Lessons for Our Struggles • God notices us individually, even in a crowd. • He initiates; our role is to respond. • His will includes both spiritual and practical change—He addresses the whole person. • Obedience, even when difficult, releases God’s power. • True healing aligns us with a life that honors the Lord (John 5:14). Scriptural Reinforcement • Proverbs 3:5-6—Trust and acknowledge Him; He makes paths straight. • James 1:5—He gives wisdom generously to those who ask. • Romans 12:1-2—Surrender leads to transformation and discernment of God’s will. • 1 Peter 5:6-7—Humble yourself and cast your cares; He cares for you. • Psalm 32:8—He instructs and teaches in the way we should go. Practical Steps to Seek God’s Will Today 1. Admit the need: honestly name the struggle before the Lord. 2. Listen for His question: through Scripture, preaching, or inner prompting, He still asks, “Do you want to get well?” 3. Align your desire with His promise: “Lord, I do want what You want.” 4. Act on what He reveals: forgive, repent, reconcile, serve—whatever His Word directs. 5. Stay in community: let fellow believers encourage and witness God’s work in you (Hebrews 10:24-25). 6. Give thanks continually: gratitude keeps the heart pliable and attentive to His ongoing guidance. Encouraging Perspective John 5:6 shows that Jesus meets us at our lowest, asks a probing question, and offers transforming grace. When we answer Him honestly and follow His lead, our struggles become the very place where we discover and live out God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will. |
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