Boldly

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 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 4:14-16, NLT)

For me, this is one of the most precious passages in Scripture. The truths that Jesus is a High Priest that understands my weaknesses and that I can come boldly to the throne of God for mercy and grace provide a place of safety and security for me.

There are times in our lives when we cling to passages like this one. Aaron and I faced one of those times this last week. On Wednesday afternoon, a decision was being made that would greatly impact our family, and we had absolutely no control over the outcome.

It’s not the first time we’ve faced something like that, and it probably won’t be the last. It’s in those out-of-control situations that our faith is tested. Do we really trust God? Do we believe with all our hearts that He is in control even when we aren’t? Is His Word true? Are His plans really perfect?

Let me tell you, I had to spend a lot of time last week counseling my heart according to the truth of God’s Word. I had to remind myself over and over again of what I really do believe – God is good, His ways are perfect, He is sovereign, and He sees the whole picture.

I spent most of the day Wednesday talking to God in my heart. At one point, I was reminded of this passage in Hebrews. I realized that in the process of submitting myself to God’s perfect will, I hadn’t let myself ask Him for the outcome I wanted. I thought, “Dana, it’s okay to ask.” It’s okay to ask.

“’Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.‘” (Matthew 7:7-11, NLT)

There’s balance here of course. Our asking has to line up with God’s will, but for me, I needed to be sure that I wasn’t incorrectly labeling doubt as balance. I needed the reminder that it’s okay to tell God what my heart wants. Then, I have to trust Him with the outcome and know that if He doesn’t answer in the way I hoped for, it is because He sees the whole picture and has a bigger plan.

So, yes, I must submit to His will. But yes, I can also come boldly to the throne of grace and make my requests known. I was reminded of a story in Brennan Manning’s book The Furious Longing of God.

In the story, a Jewish grandmother is watching her grandson, Jacob, at the beach. He is playing with a pail and shovel in the sand and wearing a yellow sunhat she has purchased for him. All of a sudden, a tidal wave sweeps him out to sea, along with the pail, shovel, and hat.

Esther boldly cries out to God for intervention, and a second wave washes Jacob back to shore with his pail and shovel. Esther’s response?

“Esther Schwarz looks up at the sky and shouts, ‘He had a canary yellow hat. Where’s the hat?'”

Brennan Manning wrote, “That, my friends, is chutzpah.”

Come boldly. Come with chutzpah. The way to the throne of grace has been opened to us by our Great High Priest, and we can come with confidence. It’s okay to ask. Just in case that one story didn’t illustrate it enough, Manning shares one more –

“Years ago the professional golfer Arnold Palmer played a series of exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia. When he finished, the king was so impressed with Palmer’s expertise that he desired to give Palmer a gift. Palmer, a multimillionaire in his own right, demurred: ‘It isn’t really necessary. I just enjoyed meeting your people and playing in your country.’

The king indicated his extreme displeasure at not being able to give the golf pro a gift. Palmer wisely reconsidered and said, ‘Well, how about a golf club? A golf club would be a wonderful memento of my visit here.’ The king was pleased. The following day, a messenger delivered to Palmer’s hotel room the title to a golf club, thirty-six holes, trees, lakes, buildings. The moral of this story? In the presence of the king, don’t ask for small gifts.”

I love that. It’s not that we are demanding our way. It’s just that we understand, if only a little, the greatness of our King and His ability to act on our behalf. So we ask. With boldness. With confidence that He hears.

So, what happened on Wednesday? I asked. And I watch the hand of God answer in a way that blew my mind. I was prepared to thank Him for His goodness no matter the outcome, but I was reminded of His power and faithfulness by the way He answered. He is SO good. 🙂

“Praise the Lord!

Let all that I am praise the Lord.
I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
    there is no help for you there.
When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,
    and all their plans die with them.
But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them.
    He keeps every promise forever.
He gives justice to the oppressed
    and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
    The Lord loves the godly.
The Lord protects the foreigners among us.
    He cares for the orphans and widows,
    but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

The Lord will reign forever.
    He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.

Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 146, NLT)

Dear Father, thank You SO much for Jesus, our Great High Priest who has opened for us the way to Your throne of grace. Thank You that we are told that we can come to You with boldness to receive Your mercy and to find Your grace to help us when we need it most. You are a good Father. Thank You for hearing us when we call. Help us to remember that we can bring our requests to You knowing that You hear us and that You are able to intervene when we are in situations that we cannot control. Help us to trust You more. Amen.

-Dana