Have you ever said, “You have to be in my shoes to understand what I am going through”?
I know I have and I know I am not alone. The Bible says Jesus was tempted in all like passions that we are tempted.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.(Heb.4:15) It goes on to say Hbr 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
The word tempted in these two verses means to test or be tried... Notice in Heb.4:15 It says Jesus can sympathize with our weakness because He was in all points as we are.
The old saying is, if God takes you to the fire, He will take you through the fire. He never removes the fire. If you don't believe me ask Job, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. How about David as he ran from King Saul, or Paul?
Paul in 2Corintheans 11 says this 16 I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. 17 What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19 For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! 20 For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage if one devours you if one takes from you if one exalts himself if one strikes you in the face. 21 To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
Lately, I have been saying nothing you are going through can measure up to the cross and all Jesus has done and is doing for us.
You are not alone and you are not the first to go through the fire. The beauty of the fire is it makes us pure like refined God.
One of my favorite songs is Refiners Fire, It goes like this,
Purify my heart Let me be as gold and precious silver Purify my heart Let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiner's fire My heart's one desire Is to be holy Set apart for You, Lord I choose to be holy Set apart for You, my Master Ready to do Your will
Purify my heart Cleanse me from within And make me holy Purify my heart Cleanse me from my sin Deep within
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