Oftentimes we can become discouraged after being in a bad situation for a long while. Discouragement is a strong weapon that can keep you defeated if no one reaches out to help. Once discouragement is in full bloom all you can see are the reasons why you can’t get out of your discouragement. Blinded by sorrow and self pity you tend to bury yourself deeper in despair. Discouragement is like deep stormy water for someone who can only hold on to a piece of driftwood waiting to be rescued from their terrible situation. We can read about a man just like this in John chapter 5.
John 5 KJV
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
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.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
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?
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 steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
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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been there a long while
If we could talk with this man who was laying by the pool of Bethesda for many years he could attest to the discouragement saga and how it fell on him. We don’t know this man’s name because we could put any of our names to this event. Whatever the situation is that has you discouraged can likely compare with this man’s story. This man had several excuses as to why he had been in this state so long and would likely stay in this state much longer. He really gave himself no hope of ever being whole.
Jesus saw the man lying there and knew he had been there a long while. Notice Jesus didn’t ask the man why have you been here so long, why are you not made whole. Jesus simply asked the man “wilt thou be made whole?”. This is a yes or no question but this man didn’t answer that question. Instead he gave the reason he was not whole that no doubt rolled in his mind day after day as he tried to find a way out of his despair.
you are all alone
No doubt day after day this man thought about the fact that he had no one to help him. The devil loves to make you believe you are all alone in your situation and have no one to help. Loneliness is a heavy veil that can blind you from receiving what God has for you. Without a doubt the man had witnessed many others being helped into the pool over and over again. This confirmed to him his case was destitute because he had no one to help him.
The other focus of his despair was the pool was only troubled at certain times. Perhaps this man had family or friends that did come by every now and then to offer some form of help in money or bread. It is possible they were never there at the right time, the time when the pool was troubled.
pushed aside
We are not told what the exact infirmity of this man is but we do know it made it difficult for him to move or walk because he said that while he was coming another would step in front of him.
There is nothing worse than being pushed aside. You think to yourself, I tried only to be pushed aside, why should i try at all. It reinforces the fact that you have no one to help at the time you need help.
be delivered from your despair
Today Jesus is asking you if you will be delivered from your despair. He is telling you there is no need to wait for someone else to be your help. You don’t have to wait for a specific event or time, and you don’t have to do it yourself.
The one who spoke this world into existence is saying to you “Will you be made whole?”
Jesus is speaking to you now “Be made whole”, “Be delivered”, “Be set free”.
Jesus did not scold or condemn this man by the pool for being in his state of infirmary for so long. He did not criticize him for his answer. Jesus said take up thy bed and walk.
House of Mercy
The pool of Bethesda means “House of Mercy” in Hebrew. Discouragement lives at the door of the house of Mercy. Although you may be in great despair you are just outside the door of the house of Mercy. The God of Mercy is asking you now to rise up and walk out of your discouragement.
Prayer for Deliverance:
Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus, thanking you for reaching out to me today.
Forgive me of any sin in my life and cover me with your blood.
I ask you to break the power of discouragement in my life today and drive away from me the spirit of infirmary, loneliness, despair, and torment.
Standing on your word I believe John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Thank you Lord for this miracle. I give you praise for your wonderful work.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
This is a powerful word of encouragement that leads to the true recovery because it leads to the true source
I really needed this right now. Some unwanted job changes are on the horizon. I find myself already fighting those old feelings of despair, discouragement, and even fear. Thank you so much.