He Knows How We Feel
This High Priest of ours (Jesus) understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings 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 most. Hebrews 4:15-16
Years ago, when I was working as a nursing supervisor, I was helping a co-worker with a difficult patient at 3 A.M. The patient was in pain from a broken hip and had not slept well in several nights. She rang her call bell every ten minutes and despite all of our efforts and medications given to reduce pain, we could not make her comfortable. As the patient began crying and complaining about the care she was receiving, while leaving the room my frustrated co-worker said, “I know how you feel, but you need to stop ringing the call bell so often so I can care for other patients.”
The patient then said to me, “Has she ever been 8o years old with a painful broken hip, no ability to sleep, a dead husband, and three children who all live in another state? If not, how can she possibly know how I feel?”
At one time or another, most of us have probably experienced the awful feeling that no one truly understands what we are going through, that no one knows how we feel. While we can sympathize with someone and have similar experiences, because of our unique personalities and personal history, we cannot feel exactly what another person is feeling.
But there is One who truly understands and knows exactly how we feel. Jesus chose to live with us, in our pain, loss, confusion, and limitations. Philippians 2:6-8 reminds us that Christ surrendered His divine privilege in order to become human, humbling Himself even to the point of death. Though He still participated in divine reality, he chose to live in the messiness and suffering of fallen human life. He’s felt our temptations, sadness, loneliness and afflictions.
Through His victory on the cross - sin, death, and all evil have been defeated. His victory is our victory through faith in Him. But on this side of eternity, we still face the brokenness of this life.
In the meantime, Jesus enters into our suffering and provides His loving kindness to sustain us, comfort us, strengthen us, and lift us up. He lets us know constantly that we are never alone.
Lord Jesus, thank You that You know how we feel every step of the way through life. Help us to lean into our relationship You. Amen.