I came across the story of a man who lived in a busy city, and although he wasn’t physically strong, he found himself lying by a pool with others, hoping for healing. He wasn’t alone, yet his condition seemed unchanged. The problem? He kept watching others get better while he stayed stuck. His life was filled with excuses.
One day, Jesus arrived in his city for a celebration and noticed the man by the pool. Jesus asked a question that, at first glance, seems almost too obvious: “Would you like to get well?” I remember reading that and thinking, Come on, Jesus—this guy’s been sick for 38 years! Of course, he wants to get well! It seemed like a no-brainer. Yet, the man’s answer wasn’t a simple “yes” or “no.” Instead, he said, “I can’t, sir.”
I can’t? I couldn’t help but pause. How many times have we said that? “I can’t do this.” “I can’t change.” “I can’t handle this.” Those two words I can’t often become a trap.
But the man didn’t stop there. He followed up with a reason: “For I have no one to help me.”
In many ways, this speaks to how we feel about our own struggles—whether they’re emotional, mental, or spiritual. So often, we believe that we lack the support we need. We convince ourselves that we can’t overcome our challenges because we don’t have someone to lift us up, or we feel alone in the fight. But what if the real reason we’re stuck isn’t the absence of help, but the lack of belief that we can move forward on our own, even with God’s strength?
The man continued, “While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me.” That could sound so familiar, right? “I’m too busy.” “I have too much to do.” “It’s just not the right time.” “When I’m more confident.” “When things are better.” These are all ways we push our healing, our growth, and our faith further down the road. We wait for the perfect moment that never seems to come.
In John 5:3, the Bible says, “Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches.” All these people shared one thing: they were looking for healing. Yet the man stayed in the same position for 38 years. Why? Excuses. Fear. Doubt.
You see, there were crowds around that pool. Everyone was there for their own reasons, but they were also competing for a chance at healing. The man didn’t have anyone to help him, but he also didn’t take the step for himself. The same is true for us—if we wait for the approval of others before we take action, we may be waiting forever.
No more excuses. There’s no reason to keep putting off the changes you’re meant to make. God has given you everything you need to heal, to grow, and to walk in the purpose He’s called you to.
I encourage you today to believe in yourself, even if no one else does. Become your own cheerleader when you’re feeling low. Even when it feels like the world is rushing ahead, trust that your journey is yours to walk. And just like Jesus told the man, I say to you: “Stand up. Pick up your mat. And walk.”
The road to mental health, healing, and faith may be long, but it starts when we stop making excuses and start believing that with God, we can.
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