Confidence in Life

 

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV).

 

There will always be those moments when we are unsure of going forward in a new experience. There will always be those circumstances when we feel fearful simply because of our lack of experience or confidence. Perhaps this is the reason I like Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote: You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” I would only add one thing to that wisdom. It is the ascension of Jesus that gives us the power to look those fears in the face. Jesus’ ascension to heaven gives us confidence in every circumstance. This is the absolute proof of the truth that He has conquered every enemy of our peace, including death itself!

 

Sometimes we use exalted language to describe Jesus: he is Lord, and he is the Son of God. He is “the heaven-born Prince of Peace … the Son of Righteousness,” as a Christmas hymn puts it. This is all true, and we rightly worship Jesus as the second person of the Trinity. But the Bible also proclaims that the Son of God became one of us, a human being. Because he took on our human nature, Jesus is able to “empathize with our weaknesses.” Think of that! Jesus knows what it feels like, as a human, to be tempted by sin, “and yet he did not sin.” He understands what it is to suffer wrong from others. He grasps the weakness of physical exhaustion and pain. And now, all of that human experience rules at God’s right hand in heaven!

 

The author of Hebrews reminds us that we do not pray to a distant, unfeeling God. Jesus is called a “priest,” someone who represents human interests before God. He has been where you are, and he represents that experience as the one who has paid the price for sin.

 

Perhaps you are facing some challenging circumstance in your life today. You may be feeling unsure of the direction you are to go; you may fear the potential of failure. Jesus knows what that is. Hold firmly to him and receive his mercy so that you can face all of it with unshakeable confidence, no matter what your weakness is.