Where Do You Go in Your Time of Need?

In your time of need, you may call a friend, head for the gym, go to the mall, or raid the refrigerator. While these do indeed provide some immediate comfort, in the long run, they do not. For this reason, the writer of Hebrews exhorts us: “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in TIME OF NEED” (4:16).

The writer declares that we need to go to the “throne of grace” in our “time of need.” We all know we are saved by grace. But do you know the other side of God’s grace—grace that empowers you to live victoriously, joyfully, and peacefully?

What is the “time of need” when you need to go to the "throne of grace?"

First, we need to go to the throne of grace when we have sinned. The problem the writer anticipates is that after we have sinned, we feel a distance from God because we know He is Holy. We have no confidence that we are worthy to go to Him. But if our confidence is in Jesus, we will draw near. If our confidence is placed (really misplaced) in ourselves, we will withdraw. If you turn away from God when you have sinned, it is a pretty good indication your confidence was in yourself!

Second, we need to go to the throne of grace when we are tempted to sin. There is never a time that is more necessary to draw near to the throne of grace. There we find the empowering grace that delivers from temptation. There we find confidence; there we grow in confidence.

And finally, can you think of a time when you don’t need His grace? We should learn to go to the “throne of grace” and stay there—knowing our “time of need” is ALL the time. If we remain at the “throne of grace”—moment by moment—we will always have enough grace to help in "time of need."