Show notes for Abide In Jesus: Healing the Paralytic
You are listening to Abide in Jesus, the podcast for women who want to experience Christ’s healing touch in their lives. I’m your host author, Carolyn Rice. And in this episode, you will find the encouragement and hope to not give up, when times are hard. The scripture for today is Mark 2:3-5 and all scripture in this podcast is from the world English Bible.
Scripture on Healing the Paralytic
Mark 2:3 – Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.
Mark 2:4 – When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.
Mark 2:5 – Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
I’m currently writing a Bible study through the book of Mark and I’d like to share a short sentence from that Bible study.
Sometimes faith is not giving up when things look like they aren’t happening, or they will never be different.
From my current Work in Progress
My Story
My husband and I have a situation in our lives that has gone on for the last 25 years with little to no change on the other party’s part. Yet through this situation, we have learned to trust the Lord and also to have boundaries.
We have learned that it’s okay not to allow evil into our lives, evil that would tear us down, pick at our self-esteem bring up bad memories. And we have learned that we don’t have to put up with unhealthy behavior. We have also learned that we can say no and still be walking in love. We have learned to move forward with Jesus, surrendering that situation to him.
We pray for the people. Yes. We forgive them. Yes. But we still have boundaries. We realized that forgiveness takes one, but reconciliation takes two. We have to leave these people and this situation with Jesus. Otherwise, it would be all we thought about. We would be trying to ruminate it in our head, trying to figure it out, wondering why, trying to make sense of the whole situation.
And there was a time in these last 25 years that this has gone on when I didn’t know how to surrender this to God or give my feelings to the Lord about this situation, especially when things would come up that utterly paralyzed me. So, I’m wondering, dear sister, if you have a situation that you’ve been dealing with that in a moment can leave you feeling utterly and completely paralyzed, paralyzed with fear, anger, bitterness, brokenness, just the overwhelm of it all, the lack of understanding, not knowing why or how, or feeling like it will never end.
When I was in that situation of feeling paralyzed when something would come up in this situation and I felt powerless, like it would never end, when I felt paralyzed in a way, that is when I cried out to Jesus
In this passage that we’ve just read. It says that Jesus saw their faith.
What does Faith Look Like to You?
Hebrews 11:1 says now faith is the assurance of things hoped for proof of things not seen.
And again, I’ll share that quote from my Bible study with you.
Sometimes faith is not giving up when things look like they aren’t happening or will never be different.
Sometimes it is crying out to Jesus in your pain instead of giving up in despair.
Sometimes it is getting up in the morning to face one more day, one more hour, one more minute, choosing not to give up, choosing not to give up on the promises of God, knowing that he will work in your life in your situation.
When Jesus saw their faith.
I’m wondering, dear sister, what does faith mean to you?
What can you do today to step out in faith? Is it just simply going throughout your day and surrendering these things to Jesus?
The rest of the story. Mark 2:6-12
Mark 2:6 – But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
Mark 2:7 – “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Mark 2:8 – Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?
Mark 2:9 – Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’
Mark 2:10 – But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the paralytic —
Mark 2:11 – “I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.”
Mark 2:12 – He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Look at that last sentence once again, hear it. And they were all amazed and glorified God saying we never saw anything like this.
Could it be that so many of these situations you are going through, are to try and keep you from walking in your purpose? They’re trying to paralyze you, to make you give up, trying to make you give up hope.
And that is exactly what the enemy would like to do to you. Dear sister, he wants you to give up. He wants you to give up on your purpose, on your destiny, on the things that God has for you.
God has a plan for you. Don’t let the naysayers pull you down anymore. Don’t let them steal your joy or hope or leave you in discouragement any longer.
Your God will make a way for you. The only way that God’s plans can be stopped in your life is if you give up and let discouragement fear and hopelessness take over, do not give up.
Rise up and take one more step. When those things paralyze, you cry out to Jesus and ask for his help. He will lead you to people, ministries, sermons, divine appointments that will encourage you and help you to heal going,
Galatians chapter six, verse nine says, let us not be weary in doing good for, we will reap in due season. If we don’t give up.
prayer
Father God, I pray for my sister in Christ that where situations or toxic relationships have in a sense, paralyzed her from moving forward. Give her what she needs.
Help her to have healthy boundaries and not allow evil into her life. Give her people with tools to help her, encourage her and give her the courage to keep moving forward. Help her to grow in her relationship with you so that she has the strength and courage to move forward. Strength that comes directly from you.
Help her to know you intimately. And to know that she knows that you are for her. Help her break the chains that would leave her paralyzed and walk forth into the divine plans and destiny that you have for her.
Help her Father, to never lose hope, but always keep moving forward, following after you. In Jesus’ mighty name. I pray. Amen.
Thank you for listening to Abide in Jesus.
You can find show notes for this episode at Carolyn’s books.com.
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