STRENGTH FOR TODAY

 

with Beatrice Asienwa, From Kenya

Bible Verse: John 5:6

Theme: There is Hope

The lame man had been at the poolside for 38 years without getting the help he needed to be the first to step into the water after the angel stirred the water. Help was near and yet so far away. The bible tells us that it is in this condition that Jesus encountered him.

This man had lost hope, he had accepted his situation which had become a way of life. No one had ever offered to help him and as such he knew that staying at the pool and seeing others healed and walking away would be a daily routine.

When Jesus spoke to him, he asked him a very simple question "would you like to get well?" The man did not believe, he gave reasons why it was not possible for him to be healed, he had clearly lost hope. Then a miracle occurred Jesus told him pick up his mat and walk. He was healed.

In this journey of life, there may be a time we feel trapped and overwhelmed by our challenges so much that we lose hope. 

 We expect friends, relatives and colleagues to offer help, we expect that things will turn round but when nothing happens we despair and get discouraged. Bitterness, resentment and self pity can build up worsening the vicious cycle blinding us to the opportunities that may be available. At this point, self destructive behavior can easily set in, alcoholism, consulting magicians and sooth sayers, alienating from friends and relatives etc.

No matter how hopeless a situation is, no matter how deep the trap is, God ministers to our deepest need. Never let hopeless situations make us lose hope. God has a special job for us. No matter how long, hopeless situations are temporary. 

Let us live on hope as we prepare to commemorate Easter. The bible tells us that after Jesus was arrested, Peter denied him three times but later he became the rock upon which Christ's church was build, the disciples were scattered but this led to the spread of the good news, the "lame" situations became sources of powerful testimonies about God's faithfulness.

Let us "Stand up and walk! All is well in this month April 2022.