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Devotional for March 27, 2020

He Understands

 "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." (Hebrews 4:15 NIV)

 Once upon a time, there was a young man for whom life turned out to be one great disappointment and sadness after another. Born in Ireland, he was engaged to be married in 1843. The night before their wedding, his fiancee accidentally drowned. Heartbroken, he moved to Canada not long afterwards. While in Canada, around 1855 he received word that his mother back home in Ireland was seriously ill. As a way of lifting her spirits, he sent her a poem he had written with the title "Pray Without Ceasing." A few years later, he became engaged to be married again, but his fiancee died of pneumonia shortly before their wedding. He himself died by drowning in 1886.

 In all this struggle, his faith did not waver. He still remained strong in his trust in Jesus, and believed that Jesus was with him all throughout his difficulty. The words which he wrote to encourage his mother were printed in a newspaper, and then became widely circulated. We know these words to this day as:

 "What a friend we have in Jesus,
  1. All our sins and griefs to bear!
    What a privilege to carry
    Everything to God in prayer!
    Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
    Oh, what needless pain we bear,
    All because we do not carry
    Everything to God in prayer!
  2. Have we trials and temptations?
    Is there trouble anywhere?
    We should never be discouraged—
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.
    Can we find a friend so faithful,
    Who will all our sorrows share?
    Jesus knows our every weakness;
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.
  3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
    Cumbered with a load of care?
    Precious Savior, still our refuge—
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.
    Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
    Take it to the Lord in prayer!
    In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
    Thou wilt find a solace there."
  4. The man's name was Joseph M. Scriven. Though his name is not so well known today, and though he did not live to see the hymn which he wrote gain tremendous popularity, he nevertheless lives on as an example of faith and trust in Jesus, even despite all the disappointments and sorrows of life. The reason he could believe this is, as he expressed in the second verse, Jesus knew, and understood, all his troubles and weaknesses - and all of ours. 
  5. As our Scripture reading points out, Jesus understands us because He is one of us. He is fully God, but also fully human, like us in every way except sin. Nevertheless, He still experienced everything we experience. He experienced hunger, sadness, disappointment, betrayal, fatigue, exhaustion. He even experienced fear, as He prayed before He was arrested. Therefore, Jesus is truly in a better position to understand us than anyone else - because He has been where we have been. He even experienced death, the most painful, excruciating death imaginable - but then He rose again, to show us that He can defeat death - and can overcome all other trials and troubles we go through. We cannot overcome problems and troubles by our own power, only Jesus can bring us through them. But we have the promise, as Joseph M. Scriven expresses, that we can ask Jesus for help in prayer at any time, in any place, for any reason. Jesus understands. He has been there - and can bring us to the other side. Especially in the midst of this pandemic, Jesus can bring us safely through, and overcome all our fears, simply by promising to be with us through everything that happens, and conquering everything by His almighty power.

 There is an additional final verse, which is seldom included in modern hymnals, but which expresses the ultimate hope Jesus gives all of us, the hope of eternal life free from struggle, even as we ask Jesus for help in this life, which we pray in closing:

 "Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there. Amen."

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