One Who Understands Your Struggle

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.  Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.  For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.  ‘Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’ bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future.  But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” (Hebrews 2:18-3:6 NIV)

I remember when my first wife left me many years ago I called a colleague who I knew had gone through the same experience.  It was so comforting to talk to someone who understood what I was going through. Various support groups exist around certain struggles for exactly the same reason.  It helps when we can lean on others who can understand what we are experiencing.  

Telling someone to trust in Jesus in a time of struggle is not viewed as helpful, perhaps because we know He is/was God and believe he had an advantage when He was on the earth.  It is often seen as trite, superficial, and insensitive.  Or perhaps it just sounds too spiritual.  

Yet, the Hebrew writer tells us that because Jesus was tempted (just like we are—4:15), he is able to help.  Yes, He is God, but when He was living on earth, He was fully human, just like us.  He got hungry, needed sleep, felt pain, and was tempted by sin.  He understands our struggle.

When it comes to temptation, Jesus understands.  He’s been there and experienced it.  You might say He is the perfect leader for a support group of those being tempted because He never gave in.  He understands not only temptation, but how to overcome it as well.

Today, know I am not being trite or superficial when I say trust in Jesus when you are tempted.  He really does understand what you are going through, but even better, He knows how to overcome any temptation you face.

© Jim Musser 2013