The Throne of Grace
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NLT)
15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Reflection
Have you ever said to someone, “you just don’t understand”? Maybe it was a time that you were going through something difficult and you were trying to express your pain or frustration. That person most likely was trying to help you or make you feel better, but ultimately, they just didn’t understand. They probably had never experienced what you were going through and therefore, they were not able to fully grasp the emotions that you were feeling.
The majority of the time, people may not fully understand what we are going through, but Jesus does. Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, came into our world and experienced humanity. He felt the pain that we feel. He experienced the temptations that we are faced with. He felt the emotions that we experience and struggle with. Jesus understands.
Knowing that truth brings me so much comfort. And yet I know that He doesn’t want us to just sit in the truth that He understands. He doesn’t want us to just push away the feelings and move forward. He wants us to come to Him. Verse 16 says, “let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.” Pray boldly, knowing that He hears you and He understands you. When tough times come into our life, we need to go to the throne of God and lay our burdens down at His feet. He wants us to do that! By coming to Him with our trials and our pain, He will give us what we need in that moment. He will give us the peace that we need and the compassion that we long for. He alone understands.
Action Steps
1. When trials come, do you find yourself going to friends and looking for comfort there instead of going to God with your burdens? While going to trusted friends and family is not a bad thing, make sure you are going to the One who truly understands what you are going through first!
2. Listen to the song “This is Our God” by Phil Wickham and reflect on who our God truly is and what He has done for us!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPDzQyk76PQ&ab_channel=PhilWickhamVEVO
Prayer
God, I am so thankful that You understand. It brings me comfort knowing that no matter what I am going through, You have been there and You go before me and know exactly why I am going through the trial. Help me to always remember that You are there and You want me to come to You in every situation, good or bad. You are the One I always want to run to when life gets hard. Thank You for loving me and always understanding. Amen.
15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Reflection
Have you ever said to someone, “you just don’t understand”? Maybe it was a time that you were going through something difficult and you were trying to express your pain or frustration. That person most likely was trying to help you or make you feel better, but ultimately, they just didn’t understand. They probably had never experienced what you were going through and therefore, they were not able to fully grasp the emotions that you were feeling.
The majority of the time, people may not fully understand what we are going through, but Jesus does. Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, came into our world and experienced humanity. He felt the pain that we feel. He experienced the temptations that we are faced with. He felt the emotions that we experience and struggle with. Jesus understands.
Knowing that truth brings me so much comfort. And yet I know that He doesn’t want us to just sit in the truth that He understands. He doesn’t want us to just push away the feelings and move forward. He wants us to come to Him. Verse 16 says, “let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.” Pray boldly, knowing that He hears you and He understands you. When tough times come into our life, we need to go to the throne of God and lay our burdens down at His feet. He wants us to do that! By coming to Him with our trials and our pain, He will give us what we need in that moment. He will give us the peace that we need and the compassion that we long for. He alone understands.
Action Steps
1. When trials come, do you find yourself going to friends and looking for comfort there instead of going to God with your burdens? While going to trusted friends and family is not a bad thing, make sure you are going to the One who truly understands what you are going through first!
2. Listen to the song “This is Our God” by Phil Wickham and reflect on who our God truly is and what He has done for us!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPDzQyk76PQ&ab_channel=PhilWickhamVEVO
Prayer
God, I am so thankful that You understand. It brings me comfort knowing that no matter what I am going through, You have been there and You go before me and know exactly why I am going through the trial. Help me to always remember that You are there and You want me to come to You in every situation, good or bad. You are the One I always want to run to when life gets hard. Thank You for loving me and always understanding. Amen.
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2 Comments
Such a great reminder! "Make sure you are going to the One who truly understands what you are going through first!"
- AMEN!
John 2:23-25