Wait

Wait! – One of our Scriptures for today comes from John 5:1-15. It’s the story of the pool of Bethesda. A certain man lay by the pool hoping to be the first one to get in when the angel of the Lord came down to stir up the water. He had been sick for 38 years and had probably been coming to the pool almost everyday waiting for the waters for that whole time.

There is a legend that goes with the story we have in Scripture. Among the crowd of people waiting for the ruffling of the surface is a physician incurably ill. Though a healer himself, he has come seeking help from a strength greater than his own. As he pushes forward, an angel stops him. Healing is not for the physician, he tells him. Then, with an insight undoubtedly inspired by the apostle Paul, the angel adds,

Without your wound where would your power be? It is your very remorse that makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men. The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and blundering children on earth as can one human being broken on the wheels of living. In Love’s service only the wounded soldiers can serve. Draw back. . .

Sometimes, that which we desire most is kept from us. We are the ones who, in our brokenness can show the compassion others need to experience. We experience it ourselves as the writer of Hebrews tell us:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:15,16)

Yes, we may have to wait for our hearts desire. We may be tried. We may have to show years of patience before we are granted the answer we wish to our prayers. However, we never have to wait for the love and compassion of Jesus Christ to be given to us by our Lord and Savior. He knows how you feel because he has been there himself.

Pastor Craig