Do You Ever Feel Paralyzed?

Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 5:17-26 ESV

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees  
and teachers of the law were sitting there.
They had come from every village of Galilee  
and from Judea and Jerusalem.
And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.  
18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat  
and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.
19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd,
they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat  
through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.  
20 When Jesus saw their faith,  
he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.  
21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking  
to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy?
Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked,  
“Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?  
23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  
24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority
on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man,  
“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”  
25 Immediately he stood up in front of them,  
took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.  
26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God.
They were filled with awe and said,  
“We have seen remarkable things today.”
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Do you ever feel like you are the paralytic?
That you are unable to move or even cry out to Him for help?
Or that you find yourself in the midst of a situation and
don’t know which step to take next.
You feel paralyzed and can’t make a move?
Are there times when even the Word of God
cuts like a knife and seems to bring no comfort?
Times when you may have been sucker punched
and all the wind has been knocked out of you
and you just can’t get up?
Times when you may have been beaten, pummeled, scoffed at,
rejected, misunderstood, run over, and stepped on?
When you find yourself so heavy laden that you can’t lift a limb?
When you are so weak or confused
that you cannot climb that roof?

You don’t want to be unfaithful, but you are hurting and lay limp.
You want to trust in the Lord and to be pleasing to Him,
but something is standing in between
your “want to” and your ability to.

In that hour we need to humble ourselves and call on our friends.
We need to ask them to lift us up,
put us on a mat, climb the roof, lower us down,
and place us before Jesus.

He does hold the whole world in His hands.
He alone can heal all, even the paralytic.

MEDITATE or MEMORIZE

Write out the following passage from Luke 5 and recite it 3 times.
Take it with you throughout the day.

23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  
24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority
on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man,  
“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”  
25 Immediately he stood up in front of them,  
took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.   

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for faithful friends
who are willing to take me in prayer before your throne of grace.

In His hands for His glory,

Laurie
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