“We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison
JEREMIAH 46-48
7Since you trust in your deeds and riches,
you too will be taken captive (48:7)
HEBREWS 4
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,fJesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16Let 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.
JOURNAL
Years ago I was in the midst of long struggle...one which I experienced some pretty intense heartache and failure. It's unfortunate that sometimes it takes loss to right my perspective but I understand now that it's God's grace!
The reality is that everyone struggles, everyone gets lonely and fearful and insecure. It is part of the human condition but for some reason it feels taboo to admit it. It seems as if admitting it will only make things worse instead of better. Reading this verse in Hebrews confronts this erroneous perspective, because the most perfect human to ever walk the earth knew struggle. Yet he overcame it...he was able to walk through it without succumbing to it.
I can always trust that God will be sympathetic to my struggle. God was one of us through Christ. Therefore he understands our struggle to obey and trust. He understands our struggle in encountering suffering and pain. He understands the struggle against thoughts and emotions that threaten to pull me away from obedience. He gets it and he gets me. Why on earth then would I ever want to depart from his presence? Why would I ever trust anything other than his word?
This is my struggle and the more I live, I realize it's everyone's struggle...to seek and trust God always. The bottom line is that we don't trust or believe for if we did then we would follow, obey and become beacons of light and hope in this world. If all "believers" truly did this and absolutely bought into God's promises then this world would look a whole lot different. Scripture promises that I am never alone, I have a savior who knows the depth of all suffering I could ever possibly encounter and he promises to never leave me or forsake me. The question is...do I believe it or not.
The reality is that everyone struggles, everyone gets lonely and fearful and insecure. It is part of the human condition but for some reason it feels taboo to admit it. It seems as if admitting it will only make things worse instead of better. Reading this verse in Hebrews confronts this erroneous perspective, because the most perfect human to ever walk the earth knew struggle. Yet he overcame it...he was able to walk through it without succumbing to it.
I can always trust that God will be sympathetic to my struggle. God was one of us through Christ. Therefore he understands our struggle to obey and trust. He understands our struggle in encountering suffering and pain. He understands the struggle against thoughts and emotions that threaten to pull me away from obedience. He gets it and he gets me. Why on earth then would I ever want to depart from his presence? Why would I ever trust anything other than his word?
This is my struggle and the more I live, I realize it's everyone's struggle...to seek and trust God always. The bottom line is that we don't trust or believe for if we did then we would follow, obey and become beacons of light and hope in this world. If all "believers" truly did this and absolutely bought into God's promises then this world would look a whole lot different. Scripture promises that I am never alone, I have a savior who knows the depth of all suffering I could ever possibly encounter and he promises to never leave me or forsake me. The question is...do I believe it or not.
8The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
DEUTERONOMY 31:8
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