90 Days to Wholeness: A Porn Addiction Recovery Devotional for WomenSample

Here, we see Jesus at the Pool of Bethesda (a healing pool in Jerusalem) confront a man who He learns has been disabled for almost 40 years. Jesus holds nothing back in asking him, “do you want to get well?” knowing that he has had opportunity after opportunity to receive healing and made excuses.

In verse 7, this man answers Him, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Jesus responds by telling this man to get up and walk.

Imagine for a moment that it is you sitting beside that pool. It may not be a disability that is keeping you from healing, but it is likely you have been trying to overcome this addiction for quite some time. Perhaps you've expected someone to come along to help you. The truth is, many of us are more comfortable in our paralysis than we are with the prospect of changing. Our paralysis is familiar and we can't imagine a different way.

Now, imagine that Jesus walked up from behind you to see you sitting there… waiting. What would He say to you? I imagine He’d have similar words for you that He had for the disabled man.

While it is impossible to truly overcome these struggles alone (we’ll discuss this more in the weeks to come), healing is ultimately a personal choice. We have to want to be healed. With that in mind, who or what is really keeping you from entering “the pool”?