The Mystery of Times and SeasonSample

Redeeming Time Through Immediate Obedience

In John 5, we meet a man who had been crippled for thirty-eight years, lying beside the Pool of Bethesda. This pool was known for its occasional stirring, and tradition said that whoever stepped in first after the stirring would be healed. Yet after almost four decades, this man remained there—still sick, still waiting. When Jesus encountered him, He asked a pointed question: “Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:6). At first glance, this question may seem unnecessary. Of course he wanted healing—or did he?

The man’s response reveals something deeper. Instead of answering “yes,” he immediately listed his obstacles: “I have no one to put me into the pool” and “someone always gets there before me” (John 5:7). Excuses poured out. Rather than expressing a desire for change, he focused on why he couldn’t change. This shows how easy it is for years of delay and disappointment to trap us into passive mindsets. Time was slipping by, but the man remained stuck in a cycle of waiting, blaming, and missing moments.

Jesus bypassed his excuses and simply said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk” (John 5:8). In that moment, the man had a choice. He could either keep explaining why healing was impossible—or he could act immediately on the word Jesus gave him. Thankfully, he responded in obedience. His healing didn’t come by waiting for better circumstances; it came by responding in faith to God’s invitation in the present. Jesus was offering him a Kairos moment—an opportune time that required an immediate response.

Many of us are like the man at the pool. We are waiting for perfect conditions, for someone to help us, or for life to become easier before we move forward. We observe the winds and clouds, like Ecclesiastes 11:4 warns, and so we never sow or reap. Yet God’s timing is often disguised in uncomfortable commands and inconvenient moments. Kairos moments don’t announce themselves with fanfare—they demand discernment, courage, and quick obedience.

When we waste Chronos time making excuses, we delay our healing, breakthrough, and destiny. Jesus comes not just to comfort us in our stuck places but to command us out of them. His question remains: “Do you want to be made well?” It’s not enough to want change—we must act on His Word without hesitation. Time is too precious to spend trapped in self-pity, regret, or blaming others for why we aren’t where we should be.

Immediate obedience to God’s Word is a way we redeem time. Every moment of delay costs something unseen. The man at the pool teaches us that today’s obedience opens tomorrow’s miracles. When God speaks, He provides the grace needed to move, even if we feel weak. It’s not about how strong we are; it’s about how willing we are to trust His voice over our circumstances.

Today, let Jesus’ question echo in your heart. “Do you want to be made well?” Stop rehearsing the reasons why not. Listen. Rise. Obey. Walk into the new thing He is calling you to. Redeem the time before you by refusing to delay any longer.

Reflection Questions:

1. What area of my life have I been delaying obedience?
2. Am I waiting for perfect conditions, or am I ready to act immediately when God speaks?
3. What immediate action can I take today in response to God’s Word?