As I have journeyed here of late, I have been so grateful for the Mercy that I have experienced and received in those moments. The mercy has been given from One who completely understands the difficulties I have faced not just because He knows them, but because He personally walked through those difficult moments Himself- the difference is He walked through in complete obedience and in complete victory. Hebrews 4 carries some treasured truths that have become some of the sustaining promises I have held to in these difficult days. It says this:
"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have
a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who in
every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with
confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and
find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews4:14-16)
As we journey through this life, navigating through it's many difficulties, we can walk confidently and securely, not in our choices or decisions, not in our ability to do things right, not even to walk victoriously over sin. Our confidence rests in the person and work of Jesus. Jesus is the great high priest who is currently at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf. (Heb. 7:25) He walked obediently on this earth- sinlessly- but not without temptation and struggle. He was tempted as these verses say "in every respect as we are". He understand each struggle we face, each temptation, each difficulty. He experienced them as we experience them- they were personal experiences. He knows them personally. Not only that, but Hebrews 2:10 says " For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering." Jesus was made perfect through experiencing suffering. Part of Jesus being the founder and perfecter of my faith, bringing me (one of His many sons to glory), was being made perfect through walking difficult roads, enduring suffering, facing temptations and trial, and doing it perfectly! And He did- for me. For you. So that we would be able to go to Him in our weak and frail state and receive mercy and grace during our season of need. Big needs; small needs. He is acquainted with them all and as we are one with Him through faith, we can find in Him all the mercy and grace to help. This has become such a precious truth as I have walked difficult roads as of late. In the words of Elyse Fitzpatrick in "Found in Him",
"And because He lived our life and was victorious in all the places where we have failed, He can now help us in whatever we face. This has a practical application for us: in every situation in which we are struggling with temptation, we can reflect on the life of Christ and ask if there are not some similar situations he faced, and them we can "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.'"I have found so much encouragement as I have learned more and more about Jesus and His life that He lived on this earth and what that means to me as I live now. It is amazing and beautiful. It gives me hope for all of the days I have left here and hope for eternity. What grace; what mercy! Mercy to journey difficult roads, mercy to cover our sin, and grace upon grace from all of His fullness for our days!
Because He is so full of grace,
Amy
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