Friends break through.

I'm beginning my Bible reading in the gospels this year.

In Mark 2 there is a story about a man who is paralyzed but receives healing after being lowered through the roof by four people.

My new realization: This man's healing came through others' faith. This story is as much about the four people who helped the man as it is about him.

Mark 2:5 says, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven you.' "

Their faith. Their faith. Jesus responded to the faith of people acting on behalf of this man.

Their faith was love in action.

Their faith was desperation leading to restoration.

Their faith was a refusal to see an obstacle as a "No."

Their faith was "We WILL get you to Jesus. By any means necessary."

Their faith was break through faith.

"Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying." -Mark 2:3-4 NKJV

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I think this story jumped out at me because I'm down right now. I am a girl paralyzed. I am struggling to get to Jesus on my own some days. The crowd of my own doubt and disappointment stands in the way.

But I have friends.

I have friends who are praying.

I have friends who are lifting me to Jesus.

I have friends who are loving me through the tears.

I have friends who are assuring me I'm going to make it.

I have friends who are sharing meals, and FaceTiming, and sending beloved snail mail.

I have friends who are breaking through the roof for me.

And because I have break through friends, I know my healing is coming. I feel their faith lifting me.

I thank God for my break through friends. And I vow to be one.

Once I'm standing again, I vow to be a girl whose faith gets my people to Jesus.

By any means necessary.