“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.” John 5:7 (KJV)
Some of you replied to that title from yesterday saying, “I’ll be your man,” while another said, “You’d have a man if you didn’t reject me.” You people are hilarious, l think. One day I’m going to organise a stand-up comedy show just for you because the talent is clearly there. Please don’t sit on your gifts, guys. 😂 Anyway, let’s stay on the actual topic. My man will come oooo! Be praying there. Okay, sharp.
The conversation between Jesus and the man at the Pool of Bethesda is quite interesting. When Jesus offers to help him, the man responds, “I have no man.” Honestly, I understand where he was coming from, and I’ll tell you why. I totally get him. I don’t know about those who grew up with a silver spoon and never really had to struggle, I thank God for you. But for those who have endured hardship, you can genuinely find yourself with no one to help.
Some people are truly alone in this big world. No one checks in on them, no one offers support, and no one has ever done anything significant to ease their burden. Many people I’ve counselled have told me they feel invisible. That is heartbreaking because every single one of us deserves to be seen, to be loved, and to be considered.
I like that the man was well aware of his situation. Some of us don’t even realise that we actually have no man. We think all these people surrounding us will really show up when we need them most, but time and again we’re disappointed because they keep proving us wrong. I remember a season when my life became so busy with people texting me every hour, for prayer, for advice, for this and for that and I was always available for them.
When I was going through one of the hardest seasons of my own life, you would find one person, or sometimes no one, there for me. Do you know how heartbreaking that is? Some would even message me without first asking how I was. They would simply say, “Hey V, please pray for me. I’m going through ABC.” No “How are you?” No checking in. What if in the hospital? God forbid but what if I’m not okay at all? Would it hurt to check in first?
When something happened in their lives, guess who was always available? Me. And I would be, because I genuinely love them. The truth is, they had me, while I had no man. So I relate to the man at Bethesda. Sometimes we have people around us during our joyful seasons, but when life gets difficult, they all know you’re at Bethesda. They know you need help getting into the pool, yet they never come. It’s a very sad reality. Even sadder for some of us whom people always assume are okay. I don’t know who started that rumour about me, but it seems almost automatic that people think, “Ah, she’s always okay.” Well, that’s a lie.
Another interesting thing about this man is that he recognised his need for people . There’s a misguided group of people who believe they need nobody that they’re perfectly fine “on their own.” They’ll even say, “As long as I have God, I’m good.” Some go as far as making up quotes that God never said, “This year God said, ‘My daughter, I will make you strong by cutting everyone off.’” Really? When did God say that? Or did you find that on Pinterest to justify whatever emotions you’re feeling?
People isolate themselves from the church, from community, and from the very help God often provides through others.You need people, my friend. This whole “I’m a rock. I’m strong. I don’t need anyone” mindset has to stop. Some of us have become so ‘strong’ that no one can even be there for us. Strong to a fault. Some of us of us is me, by the way. We wear independence like a badge of honour, yet in doing so, we rob ourselves of the beauty of receiving love, support and help from others.
Whether we like it or not, God created us for community. Actually you must like it o. We need people. Let me ask you a question, who do you have? I’m not talking about the people who simply laugh with you, but the ones who cry with you too. Who can you text or call in the day of adversity? While you’re busy holding everyone else’s hand, who holds yours? One of my pastors recently asked me that question, and today I’m asking you. Who has your back?
Who can you call when you need help with something, and even if they can’t help, they would at least answer your call? Who can you say to, “I’m going through ABC. The pool has been stirred, and I need help getting in. Can you help me?” Who helps you? By the way, I’m not trying to stir up emotions for the sake of it. I’m also not talking to people who don’t know how to nurture relationships those who mistreated the very people God placed in their lives and then wonder why no one is there for them. I’m not talking to you.
I’m talking to those who have genuinely done their part, who have loved, served, shown up, and yet somehow are forgotten when they need someone. I’m talking to those who can’t even think of one person in their own family who intentionally checks in on them, not even their own parents or siblings. Who is in your corner? Who is on your side? Who can be trusted to bandage your wounds on a day when life has left you bleeding? Think about these questions carefully. They may reveal the difference between those who are truly your friends and those who are simply acquaintances.
We will continue tomorrow.
If you read my blogs but have never met this Wonderful Jesus that I’m always writing about, you’d love to get to know Him, Or you know The Lord but have found yourself drifting far from Him, I would love to talk with you. Please send me an email on yieldedcwcenter@gmail.com or simply comment, and I will reach out to you
