Hebrews 4:16 NASB
Therefore let’s approach (draw near to) the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for HELP at the time of our need.
Dear friends,
I feel compelled in my soul to write to you this evening as I sit in the hospital room with my son! Since the time he got sick with this crazy flare up, I have cried out for MERCY because my son needed HELP that could only come from above!
My middle son Rhett was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerated Colitis at the age of 12. He began to get sick at 11 however, we didn’t understand what was going on and where this road would eventually lead us. Throughout the past 12 years we have cried out to the Lord many times for God’s HELP! Along the way, Rhett has suffered greatly in silence and many times has been misunderstood. We have sought many physicians, read many books and tried every diet that was possible, including a 40 day fast, with nothing but boost and veggie smoothies to rest his gut, that ended up making him sicker than he was before he started it.
Rhett has been from holistic care to chiropractic care to medical and nothing has cured him or put him in remission. There were seasons of remission with certain dual drug therapy, but eventually his body would reject it. We have prayed every prayer that could be prayed and yet Rhett still suffered.
Around February of this year, 2022, I noticed Rhett was going to the bathroom a little more frequently. Then somehow insurance said that they needed a doctor’s approval for his entyvio infusion that he had been on for 3 years. It took 3 weeks to get it approved. Meanwhile during the wait, he became sicker without the medication. Then, on top of all that, he got fired from his job for taking time off to go to the doctor and to receive previous infusions. Rhett was getting really discouraged, but somehow he kept his head up and he kept going.
His friend who is a flight attendant invited him for weekend flight to Costa Rica to help get his mind off everything. While he was there, he ate Ceviche and drank the water. Somehow he forgot that he was in Costa Rica and the water was not suitable for those who have not grown up there. His gut was introduced to another bacteria (E-Coli) that set him on fire. He barely made it home from that trip and his health declined day after day.
Rhett has been in severe pain and has been losing blood from the bacteria infection. He has been in and out of the hospital for the past two months, and here we are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a colectomy.
On May 13, 2022, Rhett had major surgery to have his colon removed. The doctor said it fell apart (perforated) as he was taking it out. His colon was mush!
The reason I am sharing this story with you is because for 12 years, we have cried out for God to HEAL Rhett. This time I prayed for MERCY! What I thought would be our worst nightmare (colectomy) has turned into acts of mercy so that his life would be saved.
The words that come to me is God’s love, mercy, grace and kindness!
I was reading in Hebrews 4:16 and the words in bold stood out to me:
Therefore let’s approach (draw near to) the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for HELP at the time of our need.
In your “time of need” the Bible says we should “approach” the throne of “grace”. In your time of need, it’s time to go to the throne room of God with confidence, and draw near to Jesus. Now is NOT the time to run away, stop praying, or retreat! No! We run to the mercy seat of God!
To draw near or approach expresses ongoing (continuing) activity, brought constantly to the Lord, over-and-over again, habitually, progressively, intermittently, continuously (uninterruptedly) etc.
Then we will receive mercy and find grace! This tells me that when you pray persistently, not relenting, not doubting, you will receive and find EVERYTHING you need in your time of help at the throne room of God! God is not holding back his love, mercy, kindness, grace and favor from you. But sometimes you have to approach the Lord, over and over until you receive and find the HELP you need!
The Word says He’s a very present HELP in times of trouble! (Psalm 46:1) 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is not SLOW to keeping his promises!
We have cried out to the Lord for MERCY. But guess what I found out I was praying to God for? The Bible says when you draw close to God, to the throne room of God, you will receive mercy.
To receive mercy means you will receive covenant loyalty, compassion, pity, leniency, loving kindness, and It means to mete out judgment (when God directs it) or to spare – as God sovereignly determines it. It means, your sin is not going to kill you because Jesus took the punishment and His blood covers you, therefore you will receive mercy and FIND grace!
To find grace is to find favor even when you don’t deserve it. Unmerited favor! It means you will find that God is leaning in toward you, favorably toward you, leaning toward to share benefits with you.
Oh Hallelujah, Thank you JESUS! All because of the blood of Jesus! All because of the compassion of Jesus Christ.
Now, I want to share the famous scripture that was penned in the old hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness found in Lamentation 3.
Lamentations 3:19-23 New American Standard Bible
Hope of Relief in God’s Mercy
19 Remember my misery and my homelessness, the wormwood and bitterness.
20 My soul certainly remembers, And is bent over within me.
21 I recall this to my mind, Therefore I wait.
22 The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end, For His compassions do not fail.
23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
If Rhett were writing this Lament, it might sound like this:
Lord, remember my misery from the sickness of my childhood. Remember how my soul has tasted bitterness. Oh how I remember the 12 years of sickness that has had me bent over. But then I remember that YOU ARE GOD and my HOPE is in YOU, therefore I will wait for you to answer me, I will wait because your attributes are acts of mercy, love, compassion, grace and they never end. Your love will not fail me. You are compassionate toward me and every day when the sun rises, I can receive mercy, grace, love, kindness and compassion all over again! Why? Not because I’m good, but because…..YOU’RE GOOD!
GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO ME!
Hebrews 13:6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
Psalm 109:26-27 Help me, Lord my God; Save me according to Your mercy. And may they know that this is Your hand; You, Lord, have done it.
Psalm 54:4 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.
The HELPER is here right now, and as you cry out these simple words, “Help me” He is faithful to do just that, but beyond what you can imagine, comprehend or fathom!
