Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.
Have you ever felt the inward weightiness of an upcoming decision? Maybe it’s kept you up at night. Or maybe you’ve felt the anxiety that comes with making plans for the future, with all the details swarming around your mind, but not being able to settle on a single thing. Sometimes life is this way. From early on in life, we’re tested, tempted, and tried - all with worries, anxieties, and regrets. This is what it is to walk around on this side of Heaven in the day-to-day, as limited human beings. But there is hope.
The author of Hebrews reminds us of this beautiful truth, unique to the God we serve: Christ knows what it is to be human. Our God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth as a man. Fully human, yet fully God. Verse 14 says, “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood” (NLT). Not only did he come as a human, but He also lived a sinless life and then died to pay for our sins, conquering the power of death. And that’s not all.
Hebrews 2:16-18 says that Christ came to help us, not only as our “High Priest”, as Hebrews calls Him over and over, offering a sacrifice of full atonement once and for all time, but also because He has put on flesh and blood. “Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” (Verse 18, NLT). What grace and mercy abounds, that our Savior would do this for us. He became like us so that He could help us. This is a truth to remember at all times, especially in times of struggle. When things aren’t going quite right, and you’re tempted to give up…When you are betrayed or hurt…When a decision lies so heavy on you that you can’t rest. He has been where you are and tells you to come to Him. I frequently recall Jesus’ words in Matthew 11, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Verse 28, NLT). You can come to Him with your troubles, for He knows what it’s like to be human.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.