Drawing Closer to God with Confidence
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."1
What are you thankful for this week? It can be because of something big or small.
Thank God for that. Don't let the shadows of life cause you to miss the little glimmers of beauty.
"Lament" may sound like an old-fashioned word, but we've found it to be transformative. The biblical genre of lament offers us a guide to process difficult times with Jesus.
Deep down, lament allows us to present our whole being to God. It is a Christian’s "essential welfare." Expressing a painful emotion before God should not be seen as a renunciation of faith or a sign of weakness, but a cry of adoration to the One who weeps with us.
When we encounter passages of lament in Scripture, we are reminded that nothing needs to be hidden from our Savior. He can deal with what ails us. Our challenge, however, is to find the confidence to turn to God when life gets tough, rather than hiding and walking away.
Trust is a funny thing. It is not always possible to pin down. We all know what trust feels like. It may be easy to see but hard to find. Trust is fickle and sometimes elusive. It can grow for years and be lost in seconds.
In difficult times, how can we approach God's throne "confidently," as today's Bible passage exhorts us, especially if we feel weak or disillusioned?
The key is to identify who or what our trust is in and, if it is not in Christ, to redirect our trust immediately. The author of Hebrews does not tell us to invoke self-confidence every time we approach God. That will never work. He exhorts us to trust Jesus. The confidence we have as believers flows from the knowledge of Christ, and not from our abilities. Trusting Jesus is the way to establish a trusting relationship with God.
Thanks to the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can enter into God's holy presence and find a safe home there, even with our mistakes and blunders. This is the gospel. Jesus has opened the way for us to access our heavenly Father when we need him most.
Consequently, today's biblical passage is significant in the context of lamentation. It implies that, when we face suffering, we can express ourselves openly before God with the full conviction that he will welcome us with his love. Always remember, no matter how broken you feel, you can be completely confident as you step into God's presence.
If you're struggling, decide to become a "lamenter," as strange as that sounds. Draw near to Jesus and cry out to him. He understands you. Taking your pain to God is the most transformative thing you can do with it. It is a profound task that heals the soul. As Scripture promises, you will receive mercy and find the grace that will supernaturally help you in your time of need.
Suggested Prayer: Dear God, I am so thankful that, thanks to the sacrifice of your Beloved Son, I can approach you with confidence, and enjoy a personal relationship with you. I understand that I can come to you with all my regrets and that you will receive me with your arms of love. I'm here, grateful for all that I have in you. Even as life continues to present me with challenges, give me the strength and grace to overcome them with your blessing. In Jesus' name, Amen.
1. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV).
Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.