Lots of people have a favorite verse or passage of Scripture that just speaks to them in a special way. Here’s mine:
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 one 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.
— Hebrews 4:14—16
Years before I accepted Jesus as my Savior at age 22, I believed in God. By that, I mean I believed that some all-powerful being did exist and create everything. I just didn’t buy the idea that such a being’s existence had much to do with me. Once I became terribly broken over my own sin and realized that I was powerless to make myself clean, I turned my life over to Christ and began my journey with him. But I brought into my Christian life a similar (slightly revised) concept of God. I felt that God existed, was all-powerful, and demonstrated his love for me by dying on the cross for me. But it kinda seemed to me that was where his love ended. The Father was real, Jesus was real, but they both lived far away in heaven. They didn’t really care about my current struggles. They didn’t really understand me.
Then I entered into a really dark time in my life. I had friends who loved me, prayed with me, and spent time with me, but I was lost in a deep pit. I barely had enough energy to make it through each day. The nights felt so long as I laid there for hours upon hours. It seemed there would be no end; it stretched up for miles on all sides of me. My body hurt, and I felt like I was moving through thick mud. Talking took enormous effort because my face felt frozen.
It was into that darkness that God spoke to me. Even today, years later, I can still hear the echo of his words: “I’m here.” For me, that was the turning point in the pit. God’s presence gave me the strength to begin climbing out. I emerged months later, with bloody fingernails and scraped knees, but alive and victorious.
Why would two short words, “I’m here,” make all the difference? Because in that moment, my image of God transformed from a distant, cold being to a Love so great that it would see me, truly see me. It would descend into the pit and keep me company there. I was transported from my lonely bedroom to the throne of grace, where I received mercy and help in my hour of greatest need.
Believer, I want to affirm for you today that no matter how deep or dark your pit, you have a great high priest, Jesus Christ, who knows you intimately and cares for you deeply. You can approach the throne of grace through prayer with confidence, knowing that he sympathizes with you in every weakness you know you have. Even more, he shows up in every weakness you don’t yet recognize. He gets it. He gets you! Being truly known and accepted is one of mankind’s deepest desires. You are truly known and truly accepted. Let this knowledge motivate you to approach the throne of grace boldly! Mercy and grace are yours because of the finished work of Jesus.