He Understands

“God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 10:30-31

Why did Jesus grow weary in Samaria (John 4:6), disturbed in Nazareth (Mark 6:6), and angry in the Temple (John 2:15)? Why was he sleepy in the boat on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:38), sad at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35), and hungry in the wilderness (Matt.4:2)?

Why? Why did he endure all these feelings? Because he knew you would feel them too.

He knew you would be weary, disturbed, and angry. He knew you’d be sleepy, grief-stricken, and hungry. He knew you’d face pain. If not the pain of the body, the pain of the soul…pain too sharp for any drug. He knew you’d face thirst. If not a thirst for water, at least a thirst for truth, and the truth we glean from the image of a thirsty Christ is—he understands.

And because he understands, we can come to him.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in He Chose the Nails

Mirrored:

We could surely go to Christ. Not just because he understands, but more because he overcame it all. He knows the way out to our pain, he knows the way out of our grief. Jesus knows how our problems have crushed our spirit and so he leans down to us to assist us to rise up and to go on.

Sadly, we only tend to remember this truth after we have reached the end of our line. After loosing all of our confidence to ourselves do we remember to turn to Jesus.

The next time life throws punches at us, do not be afraid. Turn first to God.