Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 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. John.5:2-4

In reading this passage, I began to get a visual. I saw lots of people from all walks of life lying around seemingly waiting with no expectation. There was no physical movement to speak of and they all had a look of despair. They were lethargic, weary and hopeless; hurting, broken, and emotionless. Some lying and waiting for a hand or just some help. None of which seem to have the energy mentally to improve their situation. They were just lying listless, detached, and waiting...just waiting.

What a state to be in even as the scripture suggests that there was a great multitude who were impotent, meaning crippled, powerless, weak, helpless, and incapable men and women lying around lacking the ability, character, or strength required to do anything about their circumstance or situation as they waited for the moving of the waters in the pool of Bethesda; waiting for the season when the angel of the Lord would come and stir up the water and they could step in and be made whole. However, even in that, there has to be some movement on their part. In order to get a healing, they had to get up from where they were and get to the pool. Further in the scripture, John tells us that Jesus asked a man who had been lying around the pool for thirty eight years waiting for someone to help him into the pool, “do you want to be made whole?” I hear Jesus asking us the same question, as well as “do you like being in your present condition”, “how long has it been", "do you want change" and how long will you lie around waiting before you decide to step into the water while it’s moving?”

The sheer excitement of reading this passage was not about the angel coming down to the pool and troubling the water or that whoever stepped in first would be made whole, but it was when I received the revelation regarding the moving of the water. We are in a season of movement; the water is stirring and it contains everything we need. All we need to do is step in. It’s time for us to move out of our comfort zone, move out of our complacency; and move out of our fear, moving out from complaining, grumbling, and murmuring from our present state because there is deliverance in the water. It’s time to move out of our “business as usual” methodologies, and move into the place where God needs us to operate according to His biblical principles. It is time to set aside our own agendas and seek Him for direction and clarity for this season. Move into becoming alive and willing to do whatever it takes to advance the kingdom. We cannot do this if we are lying lifeless, and unresponsive.

We cannot be as those mentioned above, where we are lying around waiting without expectation; nor can we lie around lethargic and sluggish. We can’t lie around hopeless or in our brokenness, or waddling in our hurt, looking sad, weary, and broken and expect to be effective. Can you imagine being that close to a pool of miraculous healings, lying under covered porches being shaded from the heat, and just waiting around hoping for someone to come along and help you get to the pool? Can you imagine being that close to where you know there is deliverance and you never really try to help yourself? We don’t have to wait for a certain season, where the angel of the Lord has to come down and stir up the waters for our healing, or our deliverance, or for our miracle before we decide that now might be a good time to get up and do something. We have the power of the living water and it's moving everyday, all day. Whatever the problem is, however long the problem has been a problem, whatever the situation of life, the water is moving and we need to get up from where we are and get to it. Let’s not lie around while the cares of this life keeps us waiting for someone to come by and help us up, allowing precious time go by because that help may never come in time. Ask the man who had been waiting 38 years for anybody that would help and nobody did until Jesus showed up! We can rest assure that God is a very present help in times of trouble and when we are in need (Psalm 46). It's time to rise up from where you are and step into whatever you need. Step into your healing, step into your miracle, step into your deliverance, and step into life more abundantly, because the water is moving!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  I Peter 1:3-9 NIV

I heard a message that was entitled, “When trials come, trust God.” Now, as simple as that statement sounds, it may be harder at times to put these two words into action… trust God. We often say that we have faith and we trust God, but when there is a circumstance that rocks us to the core, or a situation is out of our control or comfort zone, we could possibly have a problem with holding fast to that trust. It causes us to begin to question God or doubt Him, if things are not done in an expedient matter or if we haven’t heard Him speak to our hearts for direction and my personal favorite: trying to be in control of all things, Cynde. Silly me. This word spoke directly to me and to everything that I have had to endure throughout the past year. I could have gotten through my circumstances more effectively and expeditiously, had I trusted that God knew what He was doing in my life or had I remembered that I should not think it strange concerning the fiery trials which come to try me (1 Peter 4:12-13). It was a word of comfort indeed, as well as a great reminder.

The word circumstance can be defined as uncontrollable conditions: conditions that affect your life and are beyond your control; it could be social, financial, material, or even, spiritual conditions. They could all quite possibly occur at the same time and for any length of time. A season of circumstances is not predictable but deemed necessary by God and most definitely, at His discretion depending on what He is preparing you for. Of course, when we in our season, our vision may become cloudy and we can be totally oblivious to that point during that time. However, I bless God for the Word that comes to uplift us, keep us on track, and provide us with hope; a word that will help us to persevere and endure while we are yet in our season.

Honestly, if you are not inside the realm of where I live and not in a natural sense, but speaking in regards to being within the circle of the spiritual influences in my life, then you really only see the outer shell of who I am… the happy, bubbly, always encouraging, standing on the word and the promises of God, never let them see you sweat Cynde. The part of me that continually, consistently, and passionately loves the Lord and loves sharing the word of God. You may not ever see or experience the Cynde trials or the inner part of me that encounters the heaviness from the manifold temptations, the assortment of trials and tribulations or the suffering that comes with being a child of God for His purpose. The word tells us that there will be trials and that the trial of our faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:7). That is where I want to be found as I suffer for righteousness’ sake (1 Peter 3:14-15).

In my season of circumstances, I have learned to become even more transparent to those that would not have the opportunity to know me on that level. I know this is truly of the Lord’s doing because I have not, over the years, worn my situations and circumstances as a cloak; certainly, not on my face, nor in my actions, but privately. There have been many sleepless nights, some crying out to the Lord, a flowing of tears, and even emotional meltdowns. I would be telling an untruth if I didn’t admit that some of my days and nights were not filled with happiness and joy or peace. This year has taught me that I am not in control of all things, but that the Lord is trying to perfect and do a good work in me as He prepares me for purpose in which He called me. Today, I can truly say that this has left me filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, knowing that I am receiving the end result of my faith!

No matter what we are doing in whatever capacity, we cannot get weary when it comes to working in our purpose, our due season is upon us (Galatians 6:9). Yes, it will get hard at times; yes, we will have to deal with many obstacles; yes, there will be adversity, hardship, difficulties, and even some suffering but we must persevere. Yes, it will sometimes seem as if it is too much to bear, but we will have to have tenacity, along with some steadfastness to continue moving forward knowing that it is for our good and God’s glory. While also bearing in mind the sufferings of Jesus are not to be compared with the light afflictions we are asked to endure. I keep in mind the words of Peter, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while (a season) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness (showing the quality of worth) of your faith.”

You may be going through a season of uncontrollable conditions; a season that is beyond your control, but hold on. Keep in mind that God is trying you with a purifying fire and it is a process that you must go through in order that your genuineness of faith can be proven—which has a greater worth than gold. God is counting on us, so let’s complete the process with joy because God has counted us worthy (1 Peter 5:10)!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde