When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” -‭‭John‬ ‭5:6‬ (‭NKJV‬‬)

There’s a point every person reaches where they’ve said: Enough.

Enough of going down the same well-worn road of frustration and pain.

The first question

There’s a point where you have to think, maybe it’s not all other people’s fault that the situation is difficult or painful. Maybe I can be well, despite how others are acting. Can I be stable, and not be the victim of instability around me?

That’s an important point to reach, because you want to take a better, healthier path. The truth is, you cannot fix another person. But you can, with God’s help, fix yourself, and that may trigger positive change in others around you.

The next question

So the next question is: Are you willing to do what it takes to be well, or will you hide behind excuses to stay unwell, or slow down the healing?

In the fifth book of John, there was a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda, where the sick and lame went to be healed. When an angel would come down to stir up the water, those who stepped in first would be healed. Pretty good deal, right?

Jesus saw there was a man lying by the pool. Knowing this man had been sick for 38 years, He asked the man, “Do you want to be made well?”

The man said he had no one to put him in the pool when the water was stirred, and when he would try, someone else would step down and be healed before him.

In His grace, Jesus healed the man instantly, and the man got up and left.

But you have to wonder how much shorter than man’s suffering could have been…or how much longer he could prolong it…through his own action or inaction.

In our own lives, we can endure years, or even decades, of misery…but do we have to? Are we really honoring God in doing this?

Believers are positive disruptors

We have the opportunity, as believers, to be positive disruptors in our relationships and situations, whether they be personal or in business. Jesus was the ultimate positive disruptor!

To be positive disruptors, we must be brave and have faith that when the water gets choppy, God will keep us afloat. There will be unrest in the face of truth–which is what we’re called to live in, despite the hardships we may face–but He will carry us as we serve Him.
Dr. David Hawkins covers some steps to confronting pain with truth, while having God cover you:

1. Change requires letting go.
2. Change requires embracing temporary chaos.
3. Change requires courage.
4. Change requires getting support.
5. Change requires faith.

Read more about these steps, from this excellent article »

Let’s break the cycle in our unhealthy interactions and relationships and say enough. Let’s be positive disruptors for change. 

Change is often unpleasant and uncomfortable. But we can be the catalysts to trigger the change that leads us, and others, to the far better and healthier place God wants us to be.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. -John 16:33 (NIV)

Our walk can be so challenging and hopeless sometimes. Not just momentarily, but for entire seasons.

But it’s important to adjust your perspective so that you see opportunity in crisis…that every rose has its thorn…that every dark cloud has a silver lining. In other words, that He has blessings laced into the trials you face, and it’s actually your privilege to be victorious in the valleys by discerning those blessings and making Him known in how you tread through those valleys.

Let’s say you are constantly in the presence of someone who condemns and judges you…shows you up in front of others…puts you down and equates your mistakes with your character. Your opportunity there is to let God channel His grace through you to not fire back. An opportunity to let His wisdom guard your tongue so you only let out words to uplift and build up. Resist the urge to add one…more…thing.

Of great importance to any believer when facing challenges is to not look inward, and to fall prey to self-pity when feeling wronged. Instead, keep your eyes on Him and let His peace overcome you. If you don’t, and you choose to get mired in your circumstance in your own strength, you will most certainly fall to behaviors and responses that will probably not honor Him.

In other words, it’s not about you.

Remember, no matter what or who is slinging arrows at you, it’s not about you. It’s not even about them. It’s about Him, and how you respond can make Him known. Remember how He girds you and fires you up from within. Remind yourself of this first thing in the morning, and be thankful for it. Remember how life was before you accepted Him? Never again!

Today’s soundtrack

Moriah Peters’ “Brave” is uplifting by voicing just how we feel when we’re downtrodden…and to ask Him to empower us to be brave.