Sometimes, things simply grow. You didn’t even plan for it, but when you look back after a while, you see that the Lord has provided. When we entered our ministry full-time, we never thought it would look like it does today. I suspect if we had a glimpse of what it looks like now, we probably would not have started at all.

If I can just deviate here, because I think this is an important point to make. Often, we pray for something and we don’t get it. Then we get angry and cannot understand why God doesn’t answer our prayer. We can’t see the future. Maybe if God had answered our prayer, it would’ve led to suffering and pain, or we may have ended up forgetting about God.

We must be grateful that God doesn’t always answer our prayers. We should just be grateful that we cannot see the road ahead. I think we would then also choose a different road, which would also not be the best choice. I just needed to get that off my chest.

Anyway, God created a huge prayer ministry inside our ministry. It not only has more than one hundred intercessors, but also a response team that personally responds to users’ prayer requests within 24 hours.

It’s interesting to hear the response team members’ journeys. Each carries his or her own pain. One woman had breast cancer. One man’s business folded. One guy had cheated on his wife. Each of them has their own story.

When someone sends a prayer request, it is allocated to a member of the response team who has had a similar experience. Because people carrying the same pain hear one another better. They speak the same language. The response team member’s experience equips him or her to know exactly what others go through and how to walk them through it.

The author of Hebrews knows this and for a second time in a few verses, he repeats the story of Jesus’ experience:

¹⁷That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself —all the pain, all the testing—¹⁸and would be able to help where help was needed.

(Read these verses a few times.)

Jesus has the experience similar to the way the response team members have gained experience and now use it to help others. Jesus knows about suffering. He suffered too. Take yours to Him. He knows. He was there too and will help you!

This is not just a story; it’s the truth.

Scripture
Hebrews 2:14-18

Reflection
What does your suffering look like?
Do you believe that Jesus understands?
Can you take it to Him?

Prayer
Jesus, thank you for the peace of mind. Thank you that I can know You know. You understand. Please help me; I can’t anymore. Amen.