Let’s be clear on this all-important point: Jesus does not minimize our difficulties. As often happens, when we are going through a hard time we can easily start thinking that we are on our own or that no one understands the degree of frustration or pain we feel. But that is false. The person who most cares for us and who most stands to help us understands our situation perfectly.
We are reminded of this in Hebrews 2:17-18 (NIV) — 17 For this reason he [Jesus] had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
And again in Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV) — 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 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. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Did you notice that the specific threat we are facing when going through a difficulty is not that we are being made uncomfortable. What makes trouble serious has to do with the fact that we are being tempted. Tempted in what way? Tempted to try and fix the situation in the way that we think is best.
It seems to me that every trial exposes this weakness in us.
That’s why it reads that Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses because he himself was subject to human weakness and when troubles came he was tempted to do his own thing too in the face of it.
Consequently, we are never alone in what we’re going through. Jesus understands. But his help is not necessarily to get rid of the adversity for us. It is to protect us from our weakness of trying to resolve the trouble we’re facing in our own way. Jesus keeps us submitted to God. He hears and understands our appeal for relief. He prayed that himself in the Garden of Gethsemane. But then he empowers us to say with him, “… not my will but yours be done.”
