“After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another, steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.” (John 5:1-9a NKJV)
Experts say that venting is good. I agree. But before you head out to your place of worship this Sunday morning, let us pull some lessons or call them “tips” from the passage above about venting.
Venting helps you in regard to your emotional health. It helps you eliminate some of those kilowatts of stress that some internal discombobulation, or some incident disturbance, or some individual dear to you helped create. First tip: Go ahead and vent. The vent can be positive, but don’t make the vent a time to seek pity for a complaint. Vent! You will maintain a better mental balance. That’s what the man did in our text who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. He In his conversation to Jesus, he used the vent. Second tip: Vent to a person who knows how to patiently listen to your venting. Don’t seek approval. Don’t expect that everything will be “all is well” when you vent. You will still have to address what caused the vent in a Christian manner as you get to the root of – the vent. Don’t think everything will be resolved. But you will be releasing of some anxiety that has built up within you. The man in our text expressed his frustrations to the right person, Jesus. He could handle the vent. We should try talking it out with Him too! Outside of out text, I remember Jesus utilizing the vent, venting to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. Third tip: Focus on your true goal. The true goal of the man in the text was that he wanted to get well. He did not pile up a plethora of anxiety producing incidents. Fourth Tip: If you go to the right person to present the vent, don’t expect him or her to help you stay in your frustrated state by over-sympathizing with you. If that happens stop venting to that person. That’s not the right person to present the vent. However, if you follow the second tip and you vent to the right person, follow the right person’s efforts to lead you to an appropriate remedy or solution. The man in our text did not stay in his stressful situation, but he listened to Jesus who spoke seven words that led to a solution, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Fifth tip: Follow good advice and get out of your state of mind that is generating your anxiety. Sometimes it is easy to do, and you will be immediately better. Look at how the text above ended: “And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.” Well, call this an early morning Sunday School lesson that might help you have to resort to the vent and also when you are the person that has to listen to the vent. Now, go to the house of the Lord so that you will get something out of the service that will specifically help qualify you as a right person to hear the vent shared with you by a friend, a friendly co-worker, a family member, a faithful husband, or faithful wife. Be equipped by the preaching and teaching of the word this morning. And of course, always refer the person to the best person to present the vent to, yes, Jesus. Encourage them to take their troubles to Him. Do you remember that Luther Barnes song? “I gave Jesus all my troubles and on Him I cast my every care. He took away my troubles and right now I feel all right.” I’m telling you from experience, Jesus has a way of making things all right! Enjoy your worship experience on this Sunday morning; a day that the Lord has made! Be blessed!
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King