STANDING TALL

The T-shirt reads “ God has a plan”. The pictures were not planned yet, here it is. Jakes journey in the wheelchair has not only been a physical change but also a mental one. After our follow up visit with the orthopedic surgeon, we went to our new coffeehouse hangout. The orthopedic surgeon had approved crutches now and some minimal stretching exercises before he starts physical therapy. He shared then how being in a wheelchair messed with him mentally. He said “ when you’re in a wheelchair people look down at you, you’re in a vulnerable position where you feel less than….” He discovered that feeling when we went shopping for clothes because everything was up too high or the isles were too narrow; parking in handicap places where people would stare or say “that doesn’t look fun”; constantly asking people to not bump his leg only to have them do it anyway. More damaging was the fact that he was sitting in a physical apparatus that reminded him everyday he was not ok. But, some of us don’t need a wheelchair to remind us that we are not ok. Sometimes it can be circumstances in our lives that are difficult. It can also be old wounds from our past that keep showing up, reminding us that we are not worthy, that we are “less than”. Have you ever felt that way, maybe still do? It can seem impossible to move forward, to be able to get out of “your” wheelchair, and stand tall, taking one step at a time towards real healing. Until someone hands you crutches and tells you “ you can get out of the wheelchair and walk tall because your healing is now in sight”. The Bible shares a similar story of a lame man who’s friends tried to get him to Jesus, to heal him, but the crowd was too large, the isles were too narrow, and no one would move to help them. So confident did his friends believe that Jesus could heal him that they went to the rooftop, made a hole to lower him down, and placed him right in front of Jesus and everyone else. And what did Jesus do? He healed the lame man, and told him to pick up his mat and walk….and walk tall he did…never to look back but only to look forward. Jesus healed him and He can heal you too. Jake is making good progress but the road to complete recovery will be long…but not impossible. Do you want to be healed of your old wounds? Do you want to get to the other side of your difficult circumstances victoriously? Then call on Jesus, ask for release of your debilitating apparatus so that you too will be able stand tall…praising God for all that He has done for you….can’t wait to see you on the other side…without the crutches…standing tall, completely healed.