We act as if we can handle our problems independently, but we are only fooling ourselves. Don’t pridefully act like you have no burdens — take them to Jesus.
It didn’t take long before Jesus’ ministry started, and people began bringing every known situation to Him. No question stumped Him, no circumstance barred Him, and no sickness overpowered Him. Regardless of the ailment, people began bringing anything and everyone to Jesus to inquire if He could help.
17 On one of those days while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the lawwere sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord’s power to heal was in him. 18 Just then some men came, carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before him.
Luke 5:17-18
The Scriptures attest that “the Lord’s power to heal was in him” (Luke 5:17). Jesus did the impossible time after time. While all four Gospels contain accounts of how Jesus healed individuals, Luke has many of them, which are full of details. As a physician, he must have marveled at health situations that he never saw success in treating go away by a simple word from Jesus. In this account, a man with paralysis had never experienced an encouraging diagnosis or a helpful treatment. His friends brought him to Jesus. In all honesty, He was their last hope. He was their only hope.
What do you need to bring to Jesus? People may come to you with needs. Some you may be able to address due to your experience, training, or skills. You may hear about some issues that you feel inadequate to comment on other than promising to pray. You can help with some needs, but I know you can’t help with them all.
Did you know that a situation has never been brought to Jesus that overwhelmed Him?
- He has never left a conversation, scratching His head on how to handle it.
- He has never required a think tank of His best angels to develop a strategy.
- He is not awaiting a mass of human volunteers to offer their expertise so He can provide hope to someone in need.
While I don’t feel the expert in just about anything, when it comes to Jesus, you have come to the most capable being in the universe, regardless of the situation. No matter the circumstances, you can bring your needs to Him. That’s why the Apostle Peter, who was in the room when this paralytic was lowered in and walked out, could easily write later, “casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you” (1 Pet. 5:7).
Whatever your burden is today, bring it before Jesus.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
