15 Feb Grace to Help in Time of Need

As a mother of four, I am regularly faced with a child who has fallen or been hurt crying to me for support and love. What tenderizes my heart in these moments is that usually the physical injury they have incurred isn’t that bad, but they’ve been shaken up emotionally and need some reassuring that they are loved and cared for by their mommy.

My sister-in-law has a beautiful practice of “blessing” her kids “boo-boo’s.” She redeems their incidents of injury or pain by turning them into opportunities to speak a blessing over them. I’ve often been struck by the power that a word of comfort and sympathy can have on my own children in their times of need.

As adults and parents, we are no different in our need for comfort, sympathy, and understanding in our weaknesses and pains. And yet sometimes we may think we need to just “suck it up” and “be strong” (we’re the parents now, right?!) rather than admit that we are a big mess in a moment of pain or weakness.

But God our Father doesn’t leave us to struggle alone. In fact, he repeatedly tells us in Scripture that he has compassion on His children and understands the weaknesses of humanity:

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:11-14)

I love how this passage describes Jesus:

“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 4:15-16)

He Understands Our Weaknesses

Jesus chose to wrap himself in human flesh and in doing so he experienced all that is common to our human condition: the pangs of hunger, the grief of loss, the sting of betrayal, the anger of injustice, the physical pains of death. He knew what it is like to feel tempted to sin without yielding to sin.

As our perfect high priest, he invites us to draw near to his throne of grace that we might receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. His is not a throne of shame or banishment but a throne of grace. His is not a throne of indifference to need but of great supply for those in need.

Lately I have been faced with some difficult relational situations that were emotionally exhausting and left me feeling weak and vulnerable. In those moments when I was the most tired and  distraught, my Heavenly Father has whispered over me His enduring promise: “My child, you are not alone. I will never leave you or forsake you.”

His loving and comforting presence (along with the presence of those who are closest to me) has sustained me through every dark and painful trial of my life and provided me with strength I desperately needed.

If you are in need of comfort, grace, compassion, and tender care today, your Heavenly Father is waiting for you with His arms outstretched. He can handle your mess. He understands your pain. Come confidently into His presence and receive help in your time of need.