Each of our lives offers many opportunities to experience unwanted moments of not knowing where to go or what to do when a crisis or problem suddenly arises. These times are even more difficult when it becomes obvious that no one around us has answers or wisdom regarding the situation we find ourselves facing.
During these times we can find that our confidence is compromised because we do not know where to go or what to do. But God has an answer for us during these times— and this answer shifts our confidence from our wisdom and understanding to His. The answer is found in Hebrews 4:16,
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.”
There is continually before every person who calls on the name of Jesus, a throne of grace where we can take our needs and our fragmented understanding. It is in this place— that is accessed by faith— that we confidently present our needs before the One who holds every answer. It is also in this holy place that we exchange our confusion, turmoil, and weakness for confidence and dependence in Him alone. We can also bring our sin and failures and receive forgiveness and freedom. This is where His sons and daughters receive mercy— undeserved and unearned help (even if the problem brought before Him was self-inflicted through disobedience or foolishness).
The throne of grace is not a place where judgments are poured out but where mercy over judgments flows and where the covenant that was made through His blood is received. The confidence we come in is sourced by that very covenant— because He cannot lie and will not break His covenant that was sealed by His blood.
What does His covenant do for His people? Let’s look further into the Book of Hebrews,
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
At the throne of grace, we come before our great Shepherd, Jesus. It is here that we are equipped with all that we need to do His will in every situation. We are given all that we need to please Him and bring glory to Him, even in the most difficult circumstances. We come to this place with no answers and no confidence in our flesh or human wisdom but we leave strengthened and confident that all our needs have been given to the One Great Shepherd who holds every answer and will execute favor, wisdom, grace, and mercy upon anything that we bring before Him.
Mercy and grace belong to His people. In the Hebrew language, mercy is closely translated to the word “compassion” and grace to the word “favor.” We receive both but grace takes His mercy one step further and pours out onto us “unmerited favor.” It is compassion and favor poured out on all who call Him their shepherd.
The Lord is my shepherd, I will not want.” Psalm 23:1 I shall lack no good thing— I shall receive mercy, grace and favor.
If today you are in a place of needing answers and needing mercy— the throne of grace is always open to you. If you need wisdom, direction, or help of any kind— this is where you go. If you are feeling weak, broken, confused, or unable to find your way— your great Shepherd is waiting to help you and lead you. He has all that you need and will pour it out with unmerited favor. His promise and covenant belong to you.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Inscribe Ministries
Featured Image by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
[…] Open the full article on the kingdomwinds.com site […]