John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool. Sitting by the pool was a crippled man who had been there for many years. Unfortunately, he had no one to place him into the pool when the water started to bubble up. For the first one who got into the pool would be healed.

Jesus was at the pool and asked the mam if he wanted to be healed. Rather than simply saying, “yes” he stated why he couldn’t be healed. He made excuses for not being able to get into the pool. Jesus, in his abundant grace, healed him. The man rose up and walked.

I’m reminded today that I often, like the crippled man, often make excuses. Rather than turning over a trouble in going through to him, I come up with reasons why I can’t be healed.

God, in his goodness, wants us to take our struggles to him. When he asks, “Do you want to be healed?” our response should simply be yes Lord.