“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16, ESV).

Wow! It's really true. Jesus is never beyond our reach. He not only knows where we are, He also understands. He empathizes with our weakness because He suffered His own “in every respect” as we suffer. (See Matthew 4:1-13 and Matthew 26:39 for examples.) But He neither denied nor yielded to weakness, rather, He remained reliant on God’s purpose and allowed His weakness to prove His steadfast character through divine strength.

It would be nice to say I have lived life without weakness, but, of course, that is not true of me. If you're honest, if I took time to share details of my personal struggles, you might see yourself in me. Jesus relates.

Thankfully, Jesus went beyond merely providing us a place to identify with weakness. He showed us how to overcome. When we turn to Him when we're weak, He pulls us to draw near to His throne of grace with confidence to receive His mercy and His strength.

Jesus is the way! And we can trust Him to show us the way because He’s already been there, and He’s already done that!