The past few weeks, God’s been helping us to better understand and work through the in-between season of God’s promise and fulfillment.  The good news is that the God in whom we trust was not only there when He promised, but He’s also walking with us now.  The even better news is that He has also gone ahead of us and knows exactly how and when our breakthrough is coming!

He is eternal and when He spoke His promises, He spoke what He was seeing already accomplished!  That’s why we can trust what He says even if we may not yet see it ourselves.  That’s why we have hope.  What we have isn’t wishful or positive thinking.  It isn’t good vibes.  We have a living hope in the one, true, living God! 

We can have confidence because, well, He already knows it all before we even approach Him!  Any area of doubt or uncertainty or shame or guilt is already known by Him.  So, we can come before Him confidently and boldly and allow His grace to wash away all of those things not from Him.

Hebrews 4:12-16

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul (psyche) and spirit (pneuma), joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Where else can we go in our time of need than straight to the throne room of God?  There in His Presence, we receive mercy and leave with the grace of God that we so desperately need.  That grace to be empowered to go back and persevere through the difficult season until we exit it victorious!

Jesus can well relate to us.  Although He fully knew how everything would end, He still struggled.  Although He struggled with the weakness of living in our flesh and dealing with the weakness of our soul, He overcame those weaknesses.  Before facing the public shame and condemnation that would be falsely heaped on Him, before facing the flogging and crucifixion, before being abandoned by His closest friends and being traded in for a murderer, Jesus faced the battle within.

Matthew 26:31-46

31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,

    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul (psyche) is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit (pneuma) is willing, but the fl