Here at Heart Epochs, we talk a lot about purpose and destiny. And about how transformation needs to take place on the way to our destination. Sadly, many believers do not fulfill their call and destiny because they don't understand that struggle and disappointment are part of the process.
The sick man answered Him, 'Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.' John 5:7
To give some context:
This scripture in John tells us that there was a crowd of people who were either sick, lame, paralyzed, or blind that would wait beside a pool for an angel to come down and stir up the water. And whoever stepped in the water first would be the one who got healed that day of whatever disease they had! How cool!
Just one problem.
There was a man there who had been sick for 38 years. And he had no one to help him get into the pool. So every time the water got stirred, he had to watch helplessly while someone else got into the pool to receive their miracle. Day after day, month after month, year after year. Almost ridiculously, holding on to hope, only to have it dashed time and time again.
Can you see his dilemma?
Feel his bitter disappointment?
Maybe you have a situation like this.
You believe that a miracle is possible because you've seen it happen for others.
But disappointment begins to set in when it hasn't happened for you.
Like this man, we often see only one way out of our situation. And if there's something blocking that path, we lose heart. This man put his trust in the "system of healing" even though the system had its flaws; the biggest one being that not everyone got healed. And secondly having to compete with other sick people in order to receive it.
Disappointment is part of the process of becoming who you were meant to be
In our walk with the Lord, we have a choice. We have great and precious promises given to us by God in His Word. They are far greater than the method of healing presented in this passage of scripture. We can choose to put our trust in God's Word or we can listen to the voice of disappointment. The voice of disappointment sounds like the "voice of reason". It tells us that things will never change. It keeps us stuck believing that there's only one door to our miracle and it happens to be closed. We must reject that voice!
But as we continue to believe God and His Word in the face of disappointments, something miraculous begins to happen. The power of pressure starts building up inside of us. The desperation, rejection, criticism and pressure of yesterday become a reservoir of explosive material today.
The fathers of our faith all had to deal with disappointments and grief.
After a great victory, Elijah despaired, saying, "It's enough! Now Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" (1 Kings 19:4).
David cried out that the waters had come up to his neck and he had sank to the miry depths. Peter dealt with the pain and shame of abandoning Jesus in His hour of trial.
Every one who had explosive faith, has also suffered great disappointments. That is because disappointments are part of the process.
Ready to detonate
But back to the man by the pool. Jesus was coming toward him. Jesus knew how long he had been in his condition. But He also knew something else. He knew that with every disappointment, hindrance and setback, this man had become more and more ready to receive from Him. This main had become full of explosive potential, just like a bomb waiting to be detonated. All he needed was a word from Jesus.
That is all we need too.