Their faces are wrung with anguish. Bloodied survivors of a terrorist attack stumble out of their Kenyan campus. German families grimly gather at a crash site in the French Alps. Nepalese parents dig through rubble, desperately calling the name of their lost child. As long as we live in a fallen world, humans will have moments when it seems we can’t go on.
Even if they’re the Son of God.
Jesus was always in control. He knew exactly what to say and do in any situation. When a mob tried to throw Him off a cliff, He quietly walked right through them. He calmed stormy seas, healed the hurting, and shrugged off trick questions with ease. What to do with a woman caught in adultery? Should He heal on the Sabbath? Pay taxes to a corrupt government? Each time Jesus’ answer stymied His opponents and elevated the discussion. He seemed prepared for anything, until He wasn’t.
Jesus never gave up, but He faced a time when His heart was deeply troubled. Sweat poured out so profusely that it ran like blood, the blood He knew He must shed. Jesus confided to His friends, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” Then He staggered onward alone and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:38-39).
Jesus arose and steadied Himself. Choosing to rest in His Father’s will, He marched out to meet the band of arresting soldiers.
What storms are you facing? You are not alone. Your Savior “has gone through suffering and testing,” and “he is able to help us when we are being tested” (Hebrews 2:18). Jesus has been where you are, and He will carry you through.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Isaiah 53:1-12
More:
Read Hebrews 2:5-18 to learn why Jesus understands whatever painful trial you’re suffering.
Next:
What has sunk your spirits today? Give it to Jesus. Ask Him for the grace you need and praise Him for His presence.
BearPair on May 23, 2016 at 12:55 am
Superb! One of your best Mike–thanks! Praise God for those three little–yet dynamic–words: “HE is able.”
elegantstarr1 on May 23, 2016 at 5:26 am
After reading this wonderful devotional, I was immediately reminded of the hymn, Yield Not To Temptation.
Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin
Each victory will help you or some others to win
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue
Look ever to Jesus and He’ll carry you through
Just ask the Savior to help you
To comfort, strengthen and keep you
He is willing to aid you
And He will carry you through
Ask the Savior to help you
To comfort, strengthen and heal you
Oh, He is willing to aid you
Jesus will carry you through
Shun evil companions, bad language disdain
God’s name hold in reverence, don’t take it in vain
Be thoughtful and honest, kindhearted and true
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through
Oh, ask the Savior to help you
To comfort, strengthen and keep you
Oh, He is willing to aid you
Jesus, He will carry you through
All I wanna do is ask the Savior to help you
Comfort, strengthen and keep you
He is willing to aid you
And He will carry you through
I wanna just ask the Savior to help you
To comfort, strengthen and keep you
He is willing to aid you
He will carry you through
gagirllive on May 23, 2016 at 11:31 am
Thank you, elegantstar1! You are so good at putting to practice Ephesians 5:19…”Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs…”
elegantstarr1 on May 23, 2016 at 9:20 pm
Thank you gagirl 😉
Gary Shultz on May 23, 2016 at 6:16 am
Mike truly a great and sobering lesson. Even as much as I think I am capable, to walk this life there are those things that just punch us hard; there may be those sins that rips us to shreds and we stagger back, completely overwhelmed. That’s when it’s important, how quick we can find Jesus? Then the strong cords of love will begin to pull us close. It is also assuring that as different as catastrophes can be to sin, Jesus is there He will help in either case. However, the process and finding peace will be quite different. I pray I can be more sensitive to those in need of help. Thanks Mike
gagirllive on May 23, 2016 at 8:32 am
Excellent devo today, Mike! So many tragedies are happening at such an accelerated pace in this broken fallen world! It truly is overwhelming…until we turn our eyes upon Jesus. We need to constantly remind ourselves that everything over our heads is under His feet. He is ABOVE ALL! He is our Hiding Place—our Refuge, and best of all, as you stated, He UNDERSTANDS all of our hurts, heartaches, and suffering. He’s been there, too. Jesus—Our compassionate, empathetic High Priest! Glory to His name! Anyone care to join me in this Praise-fest? 🙂 Thanks for this uplifting word today, Mike!
sandy229 on May 23, 2016 at 9:04 am
It’s so true, only God truly UNDERSTANDS all of our hurts, heartaches, and suffering because he has been there! He knows what we need before we do and when we need to totally depend on Him. I gladly join you in this Praise-fest!! Praise be to God for this uplifting moment and uplifting devo that Mike has given us today, letting God use him to give us His message today. Glory to God forever!!
hsnpoor on May 23, 2016 at 11:08 am
I go on board the moment I read “that everything over our heads is under his feet”! Ain’t that just the truth well stated! Thank you, gagirllive for summarizing an excellent devotion by Mike, as only you could! HALLELUJAH!
sandy229 on May 23, 2016 at 3:29 pm
Amen Kim!!
Mike Wittmer on May 23, 2016 at 8:37 pm
Love that line, gagirllive. Everything over our heads is under his feet. That makes my day!
elegantstarr1 on May 23, 2016 at 9:27 pm
You said it gagirl, I love that statement, “Everything over our heads is under His feet”! Wow! Powerful statement that speaks volume in a broken fallen world. I totally join you in this praise-fest with outstretched arms.
sandy229 on May 23, 2016 at 8:58 am
Thanks Mike for your devotional today. Sometimes things can get so overwhelming, we need to just stop and ask God to heal our situation and let go of it and give it to Him, for it is His will and not ours that matters. No matter where life takes us or what others may think, it is only God that can heal our pain and take us to the place where we need to be. We can try to fix things on our own, but its only by letting go and giving it to God, we can find our purpose and where we need to be.
gagirllive on May 23, 2016 at 10:42 am
Amen, Sandy. I’ve missed hearing your voice here lately! 🙂 You know, the picture with this devo and the heart-wrenching descriptions that Mike wrote about at the top are so hard to comprehend…such overwhelming loss. It makes me want to scream, “This is our world, people!…This is who we are APART from the saving grace of God!” What utter hopelessness without Him! We must share This Hope!
sandy229 on May 23, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Thank you gagirl, I’ve had a lot to catch up on with all that’s going on, but I have tried to read the comments every day, I just haven’t been able to make any comments of my own or reply to other comments. The picture above is so devastating. Yesterday we went to some of the ruins in the desert where there is a lot of volcanic rocks, and the lakes were all dry. Some of the people we went with are truly without any hope. I just wanted to shake them into reality!! I was at a loss as of what to say to them even though I knew they needed to hear about the love of Jesus. I will possibly see them again, and hopefully I can be prepared, which I should have already been. Yes, we must share this hope with everyone!
hsnpoor on May 23, 2016 at 11:09 am
AMEN!
godlove on May 23, 2016 at 11:16 am
Mike, I absolutely love the example Jesus showed us there when He Himself felt overwhelmed by grief and the fearful expectation of suffering which He knew He was going to face: He simply lay it down before His Father in prayer. I feel that the “little” prayer Jesus did just before His arrest appeased and strengthened Him to face what was coming. And the passage in the Next section is wonderful: knowing that Jesus perfectly understands the meaning of pain and suffering, I know that when I come to Him in similar circumstances, I undoubtedly find peace. I may be pressed on every side by troubles, but I will not be crushed; I may be perplexed, but never driven to despair; I may be hunted down, but never abandoned by God; I may be knocked down, but I will not be destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
gagirllive on May 23, 2016 at 11:35 am
Amen, godlove! Love that scripture reference in 2 Corinthians…so encouraging!
sandy229 on May 23, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Amen!! Love that scripture reference!!
Mike Wittmer on May 23, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Thank you for adding so many true and inspirational thoughts from the Word. I am encouraged to know that Jesus knows exactly what we are enduring. What a Savior!