I don’t know what hard thing you may be facing right now. That impossibility that’s staring you in the face. But I do know that I understand and am walking that road beside you.
Seasons of hardship come on strong like a hurricane, but don’t seem to leave in the same way they came. Generally, trials linger like a rain that just won’t let up.
In times like these, it’s easy to despair or feel like we have to figure out how we’ll continue on with life all on our own. Forgetting it’s God who holds our lives in His hands. It’s tempting to pull the situation close like Gollum does with his precious ring (Lord of the Rings) and hold on to what control we have left, thinking this is the answer. Holding on to what good is left, for as long as we can.
But as we come to learn from our God and heavenly Father, we don’t need to grip it all so tightly. We can approach Him and hand it all over at any moment we choose. In fact, this is what He asks us to do.
In Old Testament days, God’s people could not enter into God’s presence themselves. The high priest was the only one who could enter into the Holy of Holies, the draped off room shaped like a cube in the innermost sacred part of the tabernacle of Moses, then eventually the temple in Jerusalem.
This room contained the Ark of the Covenant, the trunk-like box which symbolized God’s special relationship with the Israelites and held the tablets containing the Ten Commandments. The priest could only enter once a year on Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for his own sins and the sins of the people through the burning of incense and sprinkling of a sacrificial animal’s blood on the mercy seat (or lid) of the Ark where God was supposed to sit. This was the place from which God “dispensed” mercy to man. The mercy seat.
The room was windowless and separated from the rest of the tabernacle or temple by a heavy and ornate curtain called the veil. When we move into the New Testament and Jesus, the Son of God, comes on the scene, He becomes the atonement for us forever by his death on the cross and resurrection back to life.
At the very moment Jesus gave up His spirit and died, the veil in the temple was supernaturally torn from top to bottom, symbolizing the removal of a separation from God and man. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, taking our sins upon Himself, we are no longer on the other side of the veil away from God.
We have been ushered into His presence once we accept and believe what Jesus has done for us.
Let’s stop and think about that for a second.
All we know is the “any time, any place” concept of entering into God’s presence. I think we know this. But do we do this?
I think we often forget truly how much we’ve been given in Jesus. Because of Jesus, we have full access to the presence of God any time day or night.
We are living in a time when we have the gift of the Holy Spirit living within us to help and to guide. And we have the astounding privilege of being in God’s presence unveiled. In Hebrews 4:16 it says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and grace to help in time of need.”
With confidence draw near. Us!
So with confidence, boldly before His throne, let’s pray together in His presence. Letting our desperate times fall at His feet and rest in His capable hands.
Father,
You are so good to allow us, mere man, into your holy presence. We aren’t worthy of such an honor. Thank you for accepting us, for loving us in your everlasting arms. Thank you for making a way for us to be with you right now in this life and on into eternity. We’re tired, we’re worn, and we’re desperate for you. Thank you for opening up full access through Jesus. We lay our burdens at your feet, trusting our lives into your hands. May your peace hang all around us and in us like a comfortable blanket. We’d ask you to work in us, through us, and for us for your glory and for your kingdom. We’re yours. We patiently await your timing and for your beautiful plan to unfold. It is in the wonderful name of Jesus’ we pray, Amen.
Amanda Bacon
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I can’t begin to explain how this resonates with my heart today … the past year has been hard in ways I still can’t fully understand or describe. The Lord is showing me what it is to abide in a new way and I continually find myself fighting against the hard parts of this learning. Disappointment and heartache seem to be a daily part of life in this season for some reason. I’m leaning into the Word and the Holy Spirit to make sense of the groanings of my spirit. Your words today were a glimpse of grace and a reminder that I’m not alone … not only is HE with me in all the hard days, this gracious loving God of ours sends sojourners who walk the difficult paths and share the journey with us. Praying for you, Amanda, and knowing you do the same for me.
Much love, my friend.
Teri Lynne
Much love and big hugs until I see you again! Praying for you too, my friend. xo