So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:16

“Grace produces divine empowerment, but in and of itself, the essence of grace is His undeserved, unmerited, and unearned favor. When are you in your most undeserving state? When you have failed.”

“Unmerited favor means that when you have failed and are in your most undeserving state, you can receive Jesus’ favor, blessings, love, and perfect acceptance in your life. Let me tell you, when you understand and receive grace as God’s unmerited favor, not only will you be empowered, you will be healed, and you will be changed from the inside out.”

Daily Grace Inspiration – Free and Undeserved | Joseph Prince Ministries https://www.josephprince.org/blog/daily-grace-inspirations/free-and-undeserved.

My Heavenly Father revealed to me one day in the past few months and when my physical pain was too much for me to bear that the reality of Hebrews 4:16 was to be a gift for me to not only get through the pain but to thrive; to grow from it.

It was a proverbial light bulb moment although I’d describe it more as a lightning bolt moment. I realized two things that one, ‘hey, I don’t have to try to ignore the extreme pain but enter into His rest, His throne room and collapse in a bundle of tears as He pours out His grace and mercy.’ Secondly, that this grace and mercy is for my time of need. Which actually is every moment of everyday as I experience pain everyday all day. Yet the truth of this reality is that we are all in a state of need twenty-four hours and seven days a week. No matter what season of life we’re in or if our lives are working out (or not) the way we’d hope, the indelible truth is that we need Jesus. We need His grace and mercy.

Our time of need, dear reader is right this very second. I’ve been pondering Hebrews chapter four and I’d encourage you to read it the context, for the verse that this devotional is based on is that Jesus has provided us with access to His perfect rest because of what He’s done. So, we don’t have to grit our teeth and strain forward for a crumb of His mercy and grace. We can enter into His throne room from a place of His rest as we lay down at His feet all our sorrows and joys. For me this means I can have mercy and grace to be able to handle my pain from His unlimited rest and unmerited, unearned favour.

My Child…

_{(Please note that this based on the Bible, however it is NOT the Bible)}

Come, submit to My voice and enter into My rest. I know that you are weary worn from waves of life and pain that crash over you. I have made a way for you to come into my rest as My Son laid down His life that you might be able to enter in.

In the natural it might look like you are seated in the dirt and sludge as pain wreaks havoc with your body and soul. Yet My beloved Child, you are really seated with Me in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). I will help you see your circumstances from My perspective as you rest here on my lap. You do not have to wonder if you’re only meant grief for, I will make all these painful situations be ultimately, to your good and My glory (Romans 8:28). I know that is a hard and mysterious truth for you to grapple with.

I will give you My compassionate mercy and generous grace to not survive the pain you live with but to thrive, grow and blossom through it. Much is the growth when you remain in Me (John 15:4 – 11).

Keep looking to Me and I will show you wonderous things from My point of view and you will see yours shift.

Love, Your Heavenly Dad.

Bible Verses…

Hebrews 4:16 – So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Ephesians 2:6 – And raised us up with Him and seated us with him in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those called according to his promise.

John 15:4 – 11 – Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Tip for People With Pain and Disability…

Find ways to calm yourself in times of pain. Breathing and relaxing can be helpful. But for me in times of extreme, blinding pain I have to go to bed. I put some music on as I focus on being in the presence of Jesus. So, I would encourage you today if you are struggling with disability and/or chronic pain that you rest in Jesus. Ask Him to help hold your focus on Him.

Tip for Those Without Pain or Disability…

Be humble enough to actually listen to the hard-won wisdom and story people with pain or disability bring. In doing so your life will be enrichened has you’ll hear echoes of God’s story coming from the lives of those whom the world often is deaf to.