In His Presence #42: Get Up, Pick Up Your Mat and Walk (Part 2)

In His Presence · #42 · Get Up, Pick Up Your Mat and Walk Mini Series, Part 2 · 02.06.2020

Then Jesus said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

John 5:8-9

Have you ever been in a situation for too long that it almost becomes your normal! That you get so used to it to the point that you start to feel abnormal without it. Take for instance, when you are used to being broke that it becomes normal for you to borrow. On a day you have enough, you still feel the urge to borrow.

Growing up a teacher’s child in Seeta in the 90’s was no easy thing; I don’t remember a day when we ever had enough. Mum would always say, “use it sparingly, it’s all we have left.” If it were sugar, you put so little that the taste was so mild, it was better than nothing. We were so poor that even the poor called us poor, they laughed their heads off at the sight of me. Mum and I sat up late each night to bake pancakes, Mandazi and chapati for the school canteen from when I was 6 years to supplement her meager salary.

At the beginning of each school term, kids would come back with new uniforms, shoes and a bag. Mine started the same old way with everything the same. When I brought up the subject of new school stuffs, Mum would say “let’s wait for sports day” that meant collecting lost items. Then we kept the stuff for a whole term until the owners forgot. Next school term, I had new stuff. That was our normal. With this approach, we had more than enough except for the right sizes.

For the man at the pool, his normal lasted 38 years, and all this time, he sat in the same place. He watched as others like him came to join the cue. The days felt the same, he woke up an invalid and went to bed the same. He never lost hope that someday help would come.

What abnormal situation have you considered your new normal? How long has it been for you? how painful and frustrating is it? I know you could be saying, “Ohh Pastor Mark you have no idea what I have been through or even what I am dealing with right now!” I have had my fair share. Jesus knows, and He does care about you. Even this will end my dear Friend. Yes, it will. Here is what the LORD is asking; Do you want to get well?

Your Friend,
Pastor Mark A. Odeke
FWTHS – pastormark@fwths.org