TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• 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 4:16 ESV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• I saw a meme on Facebook last night that made me laugh. It was one of those poorly drawn “What Do We Want” memes and the captions went like this:
What are we all gonna die from?
Coronavirus!
What are the symptoms?
Fever and a cough!
What should we buy?
Toilet paper!
Please understand, I’m not mocking the severity of coronavirus. We certainly need to pray! But the public response to toilet paper is hilarious! Why is there such a run on toilet paper???
It’s a reminder that people who are desperate don’t always turn to the right solution. When tragedy happens or fear overcomes us, to whom do you turn?
In Hebrew 4:14-16, the writer speaks of Jesus as our High Priest and how He understands the temptations we face because He lived as a man. However, He also experienced the full spectrum of human life and therefore, He understands our fears as well. In Hebrews 4:16, it says, “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.”
It’s in these moments of fear that Jesus wants us to turn to Him for His peace that surpasses understanding (John 14:27, Philippians 4:7). Because “Our time of need” isn’t just about when we’re faced with the temptation of sin; our needs are multifaceted and Jesus is there to fill every one of them!
But when we are desperate for understanding and help, we often don’t know what to do and forget to whom we should turn. I was there almost a year ago.
It was late March 2019 when my son had his skateboarding accident that shattered his elbow which led to surgery which led to a bruised and collapsed lung which led to life support and two nights in the ICU. What we thought was a routine surgery turned into a nightmare of watching a machine breathe for my son. Then, after he woke up with a breathing tube in his throat, the helplessness we felt as we watched the fear in his eyes, especially as he realized he was restrained so he wouldn’t pull out the tube… as he gagged against it and had tears in his eyes and used a restrained hand to type his notes on my phone, pleading for it to be removed.
My nightmare came to an end and he’s healthy now. But in those terrifying hours, when my faith was rattled, I tried to pray. I desperately wanted to, but my fear was so great, I was paralyzed. I know the Holy Spirit offers to pray for us when we can’t find the words (Romans 8:26-27). And I’m still not sure how He made sense of my rambling prayers that week, but somehow, He did.
The panic of coronavirus is very real for some people. For others, it’s fear of the idea of the virus. Whether it’s fear over personal situation or fear over a perceived threat, no amount of toilet paper, soap, or bottled water is going to overcome that fear.
Today, it’s coronavirus. Next month, it may be something else. But whatever threatens your security, nothing of this earth will settle your heart or bring you peace. Fear can only be dealt with when we surrender it at the feet of Jesus.
When fear strikes at your heart, to Whom will you turn?
Today, as you pray, thank God for His peace that defies fear. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you lean on Him when fear tries to overtake you. Ask Him to remind you that Jesus is the answer to everything—and all you need in the good and the bad.
SHARING ••• Please share with others! Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Download a free Bible-In-A-Year Reading Plan when you subscribe! Join an online prayer group at www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandonourkneesprayergroup. ***Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture references are from the ESV translation.
