Out of the Depths 4

Hebrews 4:14-16

Several years ago the son of one of our members wanted to talk to me. He was upset because his father had cancer and didn’t have long to live. I was able to give some counseling and, I think, a little comfort. It wasn’t just because I am a pastor, but because I had lost my own father who died suddenly and all too soon. I knew what he was going through.

The author of Hebrews gives us some assurance about Jesus. Why should we have faith in Jesus? What is Jesus able to do? How should we feel when we come to God?

Too often when we are faced with difficult situations in life we fall into the trap of thinking that no one knows what we are going through. Too often when life gets hard we think we are on our own, and we can let our fears and worries defeat us. But this is not true.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has gone through the tough times of life just as we have. Historians believe that Jesus as a youngster was probably witness to the political oppression of Rome. He most likely went through all the stress and turmoil of life growing up within a family. He experienced grief and loss.

He went through times of hope and times of fear. He built up friendships and lost some of those friends. He suffered temptations. He was accused and arrested. He was put to death at a young age.

But he was more than a man who experienced the highs and lows of life. He was the Son of God, God in human form. He was the expression of God’s compassion and love. He existed so that we might be connected to the Lord.

When we face the uncertainty of life we need to turn to the certainty of God. Jesus knows what we are experiencing. He has been through it too. And with that knowledge we are invited to come to God with confidence knowing that God understands our plight and our worries.

I believe God doesn’t always spare us from the tough parts of life, just as he didn’t spare His own Son from them. But I believe God can give us comfort in our dark hours. And I believe God can make good emerge from the troubles if we will trust Him.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Where do you need comfort?