Timely Help!

Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. HEBREWS 4:16 AMP

Here we stand, on the final day of the year. It has been an experience; there have been highs and lows, and so many other things in between. One thing that has become nonnegotiable is the fact that God has not changed one bit, neither has his standards diminished in any way. He had remained faithful and consistent through all the seasons of our lives. How do I know this?

1. God's place of authority is a throne of grace, not a place of condemnation. God knows we are weak and cannot help ourselves, so he has given us unhindered access to that throne. There, you find unmerited favour and undeserved help. We don't qualify for birth by privilege, birthright or connections, but simply by God's grace.

2. He asks me to come with confidence. It is difficult to approach with confidence if you are not sure of who you are and what has been offered you. You are not coming because you made the way possible; you are coming because Jesus already opened the way for you to approach. Don't let the devil hold you to your past; he is doomed because he has no future. You do have a future, secured by the death and life of the One called the Saviour.

3. God's throne dispenses mercy now. It does not matter how terrible your past or present may be; the fact that you are alive and reading this means that mercy is still available for you. For every failure, shortcoming, weakness and inability, God has mercy as a response. A warning though: a time is coming when the same throne will dispense judgement for sin. Then, it will be too late to repent or be truly sorry. Approach now, mercy has made a way.

4. God is always on time, on point and with help that meets the particular need at the particular time. Sometimes, our human nature cries out for attention NOW. We want the help NOW. We want the comfort NOW. God is however more concerned about building up my character, than he is in giving me everything I want when I want it. He wants me to be a vessel he can display his glory and grace in, not one that is untested and therefore untrustworthy. Whatever he allows has been fully flavoured with his grace, and whatever comes to me has always passed through his throne of grace.

I am therefore confident that nothing can destroy or derail my life. I look forward to the new year in hope, confident that mercy and grace have been packaged into the year ahead and into every experience that is ahead. His time of favour is here.