Tender Regard

“Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” Hebrews 4:16

Boldness or confidence is ‘parresia’ and means ‘Freedom in speaking ALL one thinks…’ This is the manner in which God intends us to approach Him. He has authorized us through Christ Jesus to draw near to the King of grace and mercy. Whatever message we have in our hearts in all circumstances – love, gratitude, anxiety, bitterness, anger, blame etc. – is expected by God to be voiced and petitioned to Him. There is nothing He can do with our emotions until we release them to Him. “I am truly grateful that our faith enables us to move past this question of Why? We need to understand that at the time of intense pain … it is natural for seeds of doubt about our faith to creep into our minds and hearts. God understands this need. God also desires for you to bring any doubts and fears to Him. Until you face these emotions in God’s presence, you will not be able to reaffirm your faith completely and accept His grace…” Confessions of a Grieving Christian, Zig Ziglar.

Children of God have been angry at and blaming God for everything since the beginning of time. “The man said, ‘The woman YOU (capital mine) put here with me…she made me eat it.’ Gen. 3:12. Then Jonah was very clear about his suffering allowed by God. “But God said to Jonah, ‘Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?’ ‘I do,’ he said. ‘I am angry enough to die.’ But the LORD said…’” Jonah 4:9. In both instances God continued the conversation with both of His chosen children. Once we allow God to do something with our uncontrolled emotions we will find mercy.

The Greek translation for mercy is beautiful. ‘Mercy – most often involves the action taken out of compassion for others in which one undertakes to alleviate their misery and relieve their suffering. Mercy is any act which attempts to address compassionately the plight and wretchedness of others…it is God’s tender regard for the misery of man.’ Duty or Delight – Knowing Where You Stand with God, p. 30

So let us take our emotions, good and bad, and approach His throne with authority in Christ and trust God to love how only God can love.