Grace in time of Need

Hebrews 4:15-16: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

But we forget that too easily. We forget that Jesus Christ perfectly understands every single struggle every single human being has ever needed to confront. We also forget that He not only understands us, but He wants us to come to Him for help. We forget that He is the Lord of the universe but He intimately relates to each of us. He will give us grace in time of need; we need to boldly come to His throne of grace... Let me tell you a story of the not-so-observable side of something I recently went through... (but beware... there might be some run-on sentences, for effect :) )

I was feeling alone, empty-hearted, stale, confused, misunderstood... my hope was torn, my life was spinning, and I was dizzy, lost, and disoriented. I was falling, falling, falling... when a thread of confidence and hope surprisingly kept me from hitting the bottom of the pit. The confidence that He felt alone, empty-hearted, stale, confused, and misunderstood, just as I had, and the hope that He wanted me to reach for and receive His comfort and consolation that because of His mercy and grace I would be lifted out of the pit of discouragement and up to the plateau of heavenly peace... was more than my heart could hold and what it could not hold poured itself out in the form of tears.

There you have my personal experience, but the great thing is that He understands Your experience. He is with you, princess of Heaven, and He understands you more than anyone ever will. Reach and receive His comfort and consolation, for because of His mercy and grace He will lift you out of this pit of discouragement and up to the plateau of heavenly peace.

this was exactly what i needed to hear this morning...

**by Spurgeon

“Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant?”
- Num. 11:11

Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden. A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him,” is heaven-born faith. The Lord afflicts his servants to glorify himself, for he is greatly glorified in the graces of his people, which are his own handiwork. When “tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope,” the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which his vessels of mercy are permitted to pass. Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy. There must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights. Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? Will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified? There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation, let us muse upon it all day long.

God's faithfulness... In my life and yours!

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I have experienced God’s faithfulness to His promises, such as this one, many times in my life. Most of the time, the days that I realize God’s everlasting faithfulness to His promise are the days that I have matured spiritually and trusted Him the most. Those nights when I don’t feel “good enough” or when I feel alone have ended with the morning light that the God of angel armies is always by my side, and that the Creator of the universe loves me beyond words.

One of these noticeable instances in my life was a night when I was completely focused on myself and my own personal problems. I had convinced myself that I was lonely; I had overwhelmed myself; and I had told myself that the lies filling my head were truth. In the depths of my soul I knew with a certainty that God was there for me, but I couldn’t seem to convince my heart and mind of these things. I finally pulled myself over to God’s Word, and read of His faithfulness and mercy. I read that I was God’s child; I read that this was a building block in my life if I would trust God in it; I read that He was trustworthy. And not only did I read these things, but I cherished every word. I received these words and their Author as the genuine truth.

Looking back, what I was so overwhelmed about is so small in comparison to eternity. Most of the people in this world have gone through horrors that I don’t know if I could ever face. My “hardships” seem quite puny compared to theirs. However, I do know that God has promised to be faithful to those who trust in Him. I have experienced His faithfulness personally, and know it to be real. I can claim along with David, “He leadeth me beside still waters, He restoreth my soul. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.”

I don't know what you are personally going through; maybe it's and emotional roller-coaster and maybe it's the death of a loved one and maybe it's a situation you didn't choose for yourself. But I do know that no matter what fire you’re in right know, you should trust God. You should trust that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Claim His promise that He is faithful!

{wallpaper}