Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:14-18
New English Translation
It can be easy to wonder if anyone knows what it feels like to be you. To wonder if anyone has felt the pain that you feel. The answer to that is Jesus understands. Jesus came to earth, fully man and fully God, so that He could rescue us through experiencing it. Let me make a short list of a few things He knows.
- People He loved died (his step-dad, Lazarus)
- He was betrayed by a friend (Judas Iscariot)
- He was stressed (before being betrayed He sweat blood because of stress)
- He knows physical suffering (He was beaten and hung on a cross)
- He understands terminal illness (He knew He was going to die)
- People made fun of Him (He was made fun of for Joseph not being His real father, He was mocked when beaten)
- He was tempted (Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, though Jesus did not give into the temptation)
Still think that no one understands what you’re going through? When we lay it out so simply, it’s amazing how much Jesus went through just so He could relate to us.
We can turn to Jesus and get true help. It’s not like one of those self-help books that claims to know the answers but really has no idea what it’s like to go through that situation. Jesus actually knows the pain. He knows the hurt. Yet, He made it through all of it. If He’s able to make it through, then we can too.
Sometimes, we make it harder on ourselves because we think we need to carry it all on our own. However, God never said that we need to be our own strength. He actually said that His strength is greater than ours, and that our weakness allows His strength to work in our lives (1 Cor 1:25; 2 Cor 12:9). There is no reason to kill ourselves trying to prove that we can carry it all when God wants to help us through it.
Now, let me make one thing clear, when God helps us carry something, it doesn’t mean that the problem simply disappears. Instead, it means that He helps you carry that heavy situation so it doesn’t crush you. To think that living with Jesus means you will not suffer is absurd because Jesus actually said that we will suffer because of living with Him (Matt 10:22; John 15:18; John 16:33). So, don’t be surprised when things don’t magically go away.
Though things may not get better in the way we like, they will get better. Rather than struggling to figure things out on our own, we can turn to Jesus and let Him help us figure it out. Why do you think we can have joy in the midst of the pain? Because we’re not carrying it alone! That is one great reason to rejoice.
So, remember, as you start today and begin to experience the difficulties of being human, let God help you. You’re not Superman, and you never will be. You don’t have the strength on your own to carry all the pain and make it through without it taking something from you. Allow God to be the strength for you. He can help you, but you have to let Him.