Day 4 — God Meets Us Here
God in the In-Between
Psalm 34:18; Hebrews 4:14–16
Sometimes we wait until we feel more put together before we approach someone.
We want to explain ourselves clearly. We would rather stop crying first. We hope to have something better to say than, “I’m still having a hard time.”
We may approach God that way, too.
Perhaps we think we should feel stronger by now. We have prayed about this before. We know the truths we are supposed to remember. Yet the sadness returns, the questions remain, and we feel weary again.
So we hesitate.
But we do not have to become less needy before coming to God.
Psalm 34 says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
David wrote this psalm as someone who knew trouble and had experienced God’s care. He did not describe a life without hardship. Later in the psalm, he acknowledges that the righteous face many afflictions.
God’s nearness does not mean His people will never hurt.
It means their hurt does not place them beyond His care.
Being brokenhearted is not something we must achieve to get God’s attention. Nor does pain itself make us right with Him. This verse assures His people that He does not overlook them when they are crushed by sorrow.
For those who belong to Christ by faith, even deep sorrow cannot undo the peace with God He has secured for them.
We may feel alone without actually being abandoned.
We may struggle to sense His nearness without His promises becoming less true.
Our confidence rests in who He is, not in how strongly we feel His presence on a particular day.
Hebrews gives us an even clearer reason to approach Him.
We have a great High Priest: Jesus, the Son of God.
A priest represented people before God. Jesus is our perfect High Priest, who gave Himself for our sins and now represents all who trust in Him before the Father. He lives to intercede for His people—to act on their behalf and plead for them.
He is not distant from human weakness.
The eternal Son became truly human. He knew weariness, sorrow, rejection, and suffering. Hebrews tells us that He was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
His understanding is not the understanding of someone who failed as we do. It is the understanding of our sinless Savior, who faced real temptation and remained faithful.
Because of Him, those who trust in Christ are invited to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace.
Not because our faith feels strong enough.
Not because we have found the right words.
Not because we have finally stopped struggling.
Because Jesus has opened the way.
There we receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.
That help may not look like an immediate change in circumstances. God may strengthen us to endure, correct us where we are wrong, comfort us through His Word, or provide care through other believers.
His grace is not permission to remain in sin. It is help to turn from sin, receive His forgiveness, and keep walking in faith and obedience.
We do not need to hide our sins any more than we need to hide our sorrow. We can confess them honestly, trusting Christ’s finished work rather than trying to excuse ourselves.
Sometimes our prayer may be very simple.
“Father, I’m tired.”
“This still hurts.”
“Please help me trust You.”
We do not need to make those prayers sound impressive. We come reverently, but honestly, knowing that through faith in Christ we are welcomed.
In the in-between, we may be waiting for answers, healing, or a clearer direction.
But those who belong to Jesus do not have to wait to approach their Father.
God’s invitation is for this moment of need—not only for some future day when we feel stronger.
Through Christ, we can come to Him here.
Reflection
- What makes you hesitate to approach God when you feel weary or unsettled?
- How does knowing Jesus is your compassionate, sinless High Priest give you confidence to pray?
- How might God’s help be different from the immediate change you have been hoping for?
Prayer
Father, thank You that we do not have to hide our weakness from You. You know what still hurts, what we fear, and where we need Your help. Thank You for Jesus, our perfect High Priest, who understands our weakness, intercedes for His people, and has opened the way for all who trust in Him to come near. Help us rest in Your promises even when we struggle to feel Your nearness. Give us mercy, strength, correction, and comfort according to Your wisdom. Help us confess our sins and walk in obedience rather than using our pain to excuse what is wrong. Keep us from withdrawing when we are weary, and teach us to come honestly and reverently to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.