Our young children are so wonderful, and so bold. They feel free to approach us and say whatever comes to their mind, NO MATTER WHO WE’RE TALKING TO OR WHAT WE’RE DOING. In their minds a little problem (to us) may feel to them as if their world is coming apart. THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY NEED HELP WE WILL STOP WHAT WE’RE DOING AND HELP THEM.
Oh that we could realize our Heavenly Father wants us TO APPROACH HIM WITH THAT SAME BOLDNESS. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with BOLDNESS, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to HELP US in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:16) In studying this “grace to help us” phrase in the original Greek the word translated “help us” is used only one other time in the Bible – (Acts 27:17), and it means A ROPE OR CHAIN WRAPPED AROUND A VESSEL TO HOLD IT TOGETHER. Paul is on a ship that’s being blown apart by a violent storm. The Bible says, “…they used helps, undergirding the ship…”(Acts 27:17)
God says that when we boldly approach Him, His grace is able TO HOLD US TOGETHER when the storm is intense and things seem to be breaking apart. He invites us to: “approach the throne of grace with BOLDNESS.” (Heb. 4:16) That word “BOLDNESS” MEANS CONFIDENCE AND OPENNESS. So when we start to pray, we go to your Lord boldly, and tell Him how it really is, how we really feel, AND HOW MUCH WE DESPERATELY NEED HIM.
The Bible says that when we do that, we can “find grace”, which means TO COME UPON OR TO DISCOVER. As if there’s an element of surprise in it, “WOW! LOOK WHAT I FOUND, all this wonderful, abundant grace to hold me together in this situation right now!” When the verse says: find grace to HELP US in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:16) The original language says “help that comes at JUST THE RIGHT TIME”, not before we really need it, not after we really need it, But RIGHT ON TIME.
This is an amazing invitation from the creator of all things, from His “throne of grace” – TO COME INTO HIS THRONE ROOM BOLDLY AND HONESTLY, reaching out to put in our hands EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED FOR THIS MOMENT, this challenge, this situation, or this need. He will respond with a flood of JUST THE KIND OF GRACE WE NEED RIGHT NOW: suffering grace, waiting grace, deciding grace, grieving grace, single grace, physical grace, emotional grace, or financial grace. All this grace is FREELY AVAILABLE TO US BECAUSE OF JESUS!
Be blessed day, that HIS GRACE WILL BE THERE AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME!
-Bill Stockham