to top

Waiting at the Gate

20120317_rtl7231_hdr

      Acts 3:1-8 says, “Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.  As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in.  Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful gate, so he could beg from the people going in to the Temple.  When he saw Peter and John about the enter, he asked them for money.                                                                                                                                                                         Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!”.  The blind man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.  But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you.  But I’ll give you what I have.  In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”      Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up.  And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.  He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk!  Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.”

 

One of my biggest regrets is that I wasted years like the crippled man in the above scripture.  More spiritually speaking than physically, I seated myself in the position of “need” or “without”.  The physical issues I had not only consumed my body, but my thinking as well.  It’s who I was.  It’s what made me unique.  It was my identity.  I desperately wanted a miracle or a quick fix, without searching out The Solution for myself.  I was “seated at the gate”, so to speak, waiting for someone to notice.

Towards the end of last year, I had surgery and began to pray that 2016 would be different.  I was counting on the New Year being a healthy one for our whole family, but as that time approached, it seemed more things drifted south.  Once again, I found myself at a crossroads.  But, somehow, it was different this time.  I noticed my prayers didn’t sound the same.  The words coming out of my mouth were filled with faith, even in the midst of sickness.  I found myself almost laughing in the face of the enemy.  I began to study The Word, more than ever before, because I felt stronger each time I did.  It came alive in me.  As I would read, I began to notice the stories of healing seemed to have a common theme, and that was this……Whether they were crippled or dead, they were all commanded to first get up.  And then they were healed.

What a simple, yet deeply spiritual concept.  Get up.  Now, it didn’t happen overnight, but the more I sought the Lord, the further I found myself begging at the gate.  My spiritual position shifted after my thinking did.  My belief in God grew stronger when I began to speak His Word over my situation.  I began to trust My Heavenly Father because I spent time getting to know Him.  And His heart.  My identity was now in Him, rather than on myself or what I lacked.  No longer was I seated in pity or unbelief, but yet I was drawing closer to Jesus, because that’s all I needed.  And just like the crippled man, as I stood, I was strengthened.  And standing led to walking, and walking turned to praising God.  True joy was born out of a simple act of obedience and faith.

One of the main lessons that I have learned is that I simply need the Healer more than the actual healing.  I need who He is more than what He can give me.  Because I need Him to survive.  Yes, He can heal with one word or one touch.  But where will I stand when tomorrows storm comes?  Where will I seek shelter?  What will I choose to believe?  Will I sit and wait for a miracle or will I rise up in faith because I know God is always good?

I want to have faith, even when I don’t have the answers.  Because that’s when it counts.  That is faith more precious than gold.

  • Lynn Mosher

    Amen, amen, and amen!!! Such a wonderful post, Nichole. During 16 years of fibromyalgia (etc), I have tried not to focus on my condition, though some days, it is really difficult. Needing the Healer more than being healed is the way to live. And thanks so much for the link to my post. Blessings to you!

    • http://nicholewilson.net Nichole Wilson

      Thank you for reading Lynn! I know it is hard to deal with physical pain…it can wear you out mentally and physically. Im so glad that we serve a God who helps us along the way and supplies the grace that we need to overcome. Blessings to you!