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Having a bad day?
Who cares?
This is a genuine question (I’m not being facetious). Is there anyone who really cares when you have a bad day? Is there anyone who even KNOWS when you have a bad day? I ask because many in the world have no one.
Let’s face it: Someone caring does not make the circumstances better. Knowing someone cares, however, enables us to feel better IN the circumstances. It shares or balances the weight, at least a little bit. Would you agree?
Today’s Scripture passage says that Jesus understands our weaknesses and (implied) our difficulties and struggles. Most of us read this and it goes over our heads. This time, when you read it below, let it sink in that Jesus actually understands what we feel and why we feel it.
It is easy for us to accept Him as God, Lord, crucified Savior, Lamb of God, King of Kings, etc. But most of us struggle with accepting Him–or even seeing Him–as friend, companion, helper, confidant, encourager, and One who is in the trenches with us as we go through “stuff”.
Accepting Him in the “big” ones–God, Savior, etc.–is easy because we do that as a mental assent (decision of approval or acceptance). Accepting that He is actually our friend, companion, confidant, etc. is not so easy because that must be understood with our feelings. This is where most of us trip up.
To comprehend that Jesus cares in this way, we must first accept it in our soul (our conscious mind and emotions) in order to get the belief into our spirit (the everlasting part of us created in God’s image). Once in our spirit, the truth is “locked in”. This is when we KNOW it as a certainty rather than just believe it as a mental assent.
The understanding of this difference is the cusp of genuine transformation because once you KNOW it, you will act on it, it will guide your decisions, and it will become the basis of your faith. You will trust it more than what you feel. This is where we must go. And this is our challenge.
Today, accept that Jesus actually understands how you feel and is compassionate BECAUSE He understands. Peter instructs us to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV) This is not figurative. It is literal. He (Jesus) expects us to do this.
In another place, Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you… and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mat 11:29-30 NIV) He says in other words, “Let me help you. You don’t have to carry all this weight by yourself.”
Here is your challenge. I will ask it as questions:
- WILL you allow Jesus to be all that He is for you and help you with the difficulty, anxiety, depression, frustration, pain, rejection… and all else you feel?
- WILL you see Him as truly and genuinely understanding and caring how you feel?
- WILL you accept that His desire is as much for your everyday life now as it is for your hereafter life?
This is a big challenge. It will require you to rethink some things you may have been taught were not so. If this is what you must do, then do it! What do you have to lose? (Hopefully fear, anxiety, and hopelessness, to name a few.)
Here are the dates/times for the Zoom calls I mentioned in my year-end update:
Wed. Jan. 25, 2023 09:00 AM Central
Thurs. Jan. 26, 2023 07:00 PM Central
Sun. Jan. 29, 2023 06:00 PM Central
Though every TS reader is welcome, if you are a supporter and/or pray for us, I would especially like to meet you on this call. I’ll post links in Monday’s TS message.
FYI: This will be the first event in our new studio! I hope you’ll check it out!
That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. (Heb 4:14-16 NLT)
Prayer: LORD, it is difficult to comprehend that You really understand the pain, rejection, discouragement, and other things with which I struggle. Help me accept this and learn to see You not just as God and Lord, but also as my friend, companion, helper, confidant, encourager–and One who cares about the bad days as well as the good and as much about my life now as about my life hereafter. Thank You for caring. Help me believe it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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“Today’s Seed” from E-MIN Jan. 19, 2023
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