“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.” Heb. 4:15 (ESV) The Son of God did not just hold on to all his divine powers when he became a human. He emptied himself so that he could experience the weakness (compared to God) of being human. He did this so that he could sympathize with us! Isn’t it amazing that the Son of God had so much desire to sympathize with us that he became like us? So now, in our union with Christ, we are connected to Jesus who knows what it is like to be tempted as we are. This includes the temptation to fear, unbelief or despair when our life is filled with pain. Jesus knows the temptations of our pain and he cares. When we focus on the fact that Jesus is sympathizing with us the pain loses some of its strength. And if we will focus on the hope that he has promised which is an “anchor for the soul” (Heb. 6:19) then we will find more strength in the midst of our troubles.
