God's Feelings

Hebrews 4:15-16

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

¹⁶ Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

Like most people, I have a sight problem.  If I can't see it, it is really hard to believe.  While there is most likely a natural inclination to do this, it can also be learned behavior.  For example, someone lets us down or disappoints us - have this happen one time too many and you will find yourself needing to see to believe.  This can be way to easy to transfer to God's character.  Am I the only one who has assigned human characteristics to Him?  And by doing so, also assign human flaws?

I have not always believed God is who He is as opposed to what and who I think He is.  Thankfully, He is who He is and has a lot of patience with me.  This scripture came to my mind the other day and it hit me - God has feelings, too.  Only He is God.  So, He is perfect.  No human flaws.  When we cry - I think He cries.  When we hurt - I think He hurts.  When we are depressed - I think He is depressed.   He is not just somewhere sitting on His throne looking down and tsk-tsk'ing at us.  He understands...sympathizes...shares the feelings, that makes me think and believe that He is never too far away from any one of us.

I don't always feel this, or see it.  In fact, I've wondered where He was in some of those times.  But, according to this scripture, He's been there, done that.  He really, truly feels our pain...without the flaws of human nature.  Our new learned behavior needs to be fearlessly, confidently and boldly reaching out to Him...and believing even when we don't see.