Witnessing lives being restored through the love and care of a safe, supportive community is truly one of the most beautiful aspects of the journey to recovery.
Acts 3 2-10
A Lame Man Healed
3 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to [a]ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Let’s explore the word lame.
Strong's Lexicon
pisseach: Lame
Original Word: פִסֵּחַ
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: picceach
Pronunciation: pis-say'-akh
Phonetic Spelling: (pis-say'-akh)
Definition: Lame
Meaning: lame
Word Origin: From the root פָּסַח (pasach), meaning "to limp" or "to be lame."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G5560 (chōlos): This Greek word is used in the New Testament to describe someone who is lame, similar to the Hebrew "pisseach." It appears in passages such as Matthew 11:5 and Acts 3:2.
Usage: The Hebrew word "pisseach" is used to describe someone who is physically lame or crippled, often referring to a person who has difficulty walking due to a physical impairment. It is used in the context of physical disability and is sometimes metaphorically applied to describe spiritual or moral deficiency.
Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite society, physical disabilities such as lameness were often seen as significant impediments to full participation in religious and social life. The Levitical laws, for instance, had specific regulations regarding those who were physically impaired, particularly concerning their roles in temple service (Leviticus 21:18). Despite these restrictions, the Hebrew Scriptures also emphasize God's compassion and care for the disabled, as seen in various prophetic and wisdom literature.
Born with a disability—could this be the result of generational trauma? At the Gate Beautiful, he sought alms, reaching out for help. He received attention from the disciples —not money, but genuine attention. "Rise up and walk," he was told, and then given a helping hand, lifted to his feet. It was at that moment he felt strength surge into his soul, empowering him to rise up. He leaped up, full of life, praising the Almighty. Those around him witnessed the miraculous recovery. This is the power of love—love in action.
On my path to healing, it was the connections I made with others that empowered me to conquer the generational trauma I was born with. These inherited wounds hindered me right from the starting gate of life. Among them were alcoholism, domestic abuse, sibling rivalry, sexual abuse, gluttony, a poverty mindset, jealousy, fear, bitterness, and broken family ties.
Trauma can express itself in many forms. The responses of fight, flight, fawn, and freeze are evident in many people's lives. The nervous system, intricate and complex, is the root cause of these responses. Consider the man at the Gate Beautiful—he seemed stuck in the freeze state. Yet, the attention of Peter and John, coupled with the power of divine love flowing through them, softened his heart and opened him to a new way of life.
The power of touch, attention, and connection heals the human being cut off from a healthy community.
Are you, or someone you know, seeking a new path? A life empowered to overcome generational trauma? It IS possible! You might wonder how... I have a few tools that may help you thaw out and move forward!
