DEVOTION – DAY 419

Hebrews 4:16 “Trusting God”

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.”

The writer of Hebrews declared that since Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest had experienced human temptations and multiple trials, He knows what we are going through, when we face temptations and crisis in our lives. He stands ready to give us help when we need it. The help may not be in the way we expected. But later, in hindsight, we will recognize that His help was there for us. Often, we expect the Lord to remove the circumstances of our difficulties immediately. But that may not happen. Instead, the Lord may allow circumstances to remain unchanged. But He would use those circumstances to change our perspectives, to train us in patience and endurance for His glory. He may use the circumstances to toughen us for greater challenges ahead, to strengthen our faith in Him. All this while, He is there beside us and we will receive His grace. And His grace is sufficient for us in all circumstances. 

We know of a boy from Myanmar who fled with his parents to Malaysia when there was internal strife in their country. As refugees in Malaysia, life was hard for them in the beginning. But this boy and his parents prayed to the Lord for His help. Eventually, they settled in Kuala Lumpur and the boy’s parents found work to support the family. They also attended our church. His parents were able to enroll the boy to our Homeschool program. Our church also offered help through the form of a scholarship. This enabled the boy to learn English and other foundational subjects. After a number of years, the family were able to be resettled in a third country. The boy’s foundation in the homeschool program enabled him to quickly adjust to the educational system where they were resettled. Today, he has graduated and is doing well. Looking back, the years as a refugee family was hard for them. But they knew that God was with them. God helped them through the gracious provision of jobs, an education for this boy, a safe environment whilst they wait for their refugee resettlement applications to be processed. Their faith and trust in the Lord were strengthened. They knew they had received God’s grace and mercy.   

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship You for You are merciful and gracious. Thank you for the privilege of being able to approach your throne of grace with confidence, and to know we will receive mercy and grace. Please help us in our time of need and give us the grace to persevere for your glory. We humbly ask this in the powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. What trial or temptation are you facing that you need God to help you?
  2. What do you think the Lord is trying to teach you even as you wait upon Him to come to help you?
  3. How have your past trials enabled you to strengthen your faith and trust in the Lord?