Ever feel like life is on pause? Maybe you’ve been in the same routine, same mindset, same struggle—month after month, maybe even years. You wake up and go through the motions, but something inside feels… stuck. You know there’s more to life, more to faith, more to you—but you don’t know how to get moving again.

In John 5, Jesus asks a man stuck for 38 years, “Do you want to be made well?” In The Gospel of I AM, the chapter “Pick Up Your Mat” shows this as more than healing—it’s a call to stop waiting and choose change.

Jesus Doesn’t Ask Pointless Questions

Think about it. Why would Jesus ask a man who’s been paralyzed for 38 years if he wants to get well? Isn’t the answer obvious?

Not always.

Sometimes, we get so used to being stuck that we stop dreaming of what freedom looks like. We grow comfortable in the uncomfortable. We let our identity sink into our struggles. Instead of pushing forward, we build lives around our limitations.

The man by the pool had reasons—excuses, even. “I have no one to help me,” he said. “Others always get in before me.”

Sound familiar?

• “I can’t get out of debt because no one ever taught me about money.”
• “I’d go back to school, but I’m too old.”
• “I want to forgive, but they hurt me too deeply.”
• “I’ll go back to church once I get my act together.”

Jesus doesn’t shame the man—but He also doesn’t indulge the excuses. He simply says, “Pick up your mat and walk.”

What’s Your Mat?

We all have one. That thing we’ve been lying on for far too long.

Maybe for you, it’s a toxic relationship that’s been draining your spirit.

Maybe it’s a mindset of shame, anxiety, or comparison.

Maybe it’s a job that’s safe but suffocating your dreams.

Or maybe it’s spiritual stagnation—knowing about God but not really walking with Him.

Whatever it is, staying stuck is not your only option.

Picking up your mat means doing something different. It could be signing up for therapy. Having that hard conversation. Joining a Bible study. Saying no to what’s been dragging you down. Or simply praying, “God, I’m ready—show me what’s next.”

And no, it’s not always easy. But it’s worth it.

You’re Not Alone in the Process

Change doesn’t mean you do it all by yourself. The same Jesus who said, “Pick up your mat,” is the one who empowers you to actually walk. You’re not expected to have superhuman strength or endless motivation. Just a willingness to respond.

In the chapter “Pick Up Your Mat,” Beam combines Scripture, storytelling, and humor to make Jesus feel real and relatable. The message is clear: Jesus wants to partner with you, not just preach at you.

Conclusion

You don’t have to lie by the proverbial pool any longer, waiting for the perfect moment. That moment is now.

Jesus is still asking, “Do you want to be made well?” Not because He doubts your desire—but because He wants you to realize that change starts with your yes.

It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to get up, take the next step, and trust that God will meet you there.

If you’re tired of spiritual stagnation, if you’re craving a fresh encounter with Jesus that moves you into action, then The Gospel of I AM by Edward Beam is a must-read. Through deeply personal, first-person storytelling in the voice of Jesus, this book doesn’t just tell you what to believe—it invites you to live it out.