When you face trials in life, what do you put your faith in? For the man in John 5:1-8 who had been ill for thirty-eight years, he put his faith in a pool of water. When Jesus asked him, “Do you wish to get well (6, NIV).” The man focused on other people preventing him from reaching the pool of water. He didn’t answer the question.
How often do we do that? Instead of lifting up our pain, worries and troubles to Jesus, we put our faith in other things for answers. When we don’t get the results we want, we blame other people for preventing us from getting what we want.
The love and grace of God is evident in what Jesus does next. “Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.’ Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk (8-9).” Jesus ignored his grumbling and showed him a different way.
When we feel life weighing us down. When we feel we can’t move. When we feel everything and everyone has failed us. There is Jesus ignoring our complaining and telling us to pick ourselves up and walk with Him. It may not be the direction we choose, but we can trust His way is better.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4, NIV
140 Character Christian 
Amen, brother Chris. The Christian life is not an easy journey. Christ told us so Himself. Thankfully, there is joy in this journey to heaven, as the passage from James says.
Blessings!
Well said. Christ desires abundant life for us. There is joy in the journey. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.
All it takes is a little faith in the big God.
So true. God is bigger than all our struggles. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.