COME BOLDLY

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) There are moments when we feel like running toward God—and there are moments when we feel like hiding from Him. When we’ve failed. When we’re ashamed. When we’ve made the same mistake again. When our faith feels weak. When life has become heavier than we know how to carry. Our instinct can be to pull away. But Hebrews 4:16 tells us to do the exact opposite: Come closer. God doesn’t say, “Get yourself together, then come.” He doesn’t say, “Fix your mess, then come.” He doesn’t say, “Prove that you deserve another chance, then come.”He says, come boldly.

THE THRONE IS A THRONE OF GRACE

Think about that phrase. The throne of grace. A throne represents authority, power, and sovereignty. God is still King. He is still holy. He is still Lord over everything. But because of Jesus, the throne we approach is also a place of grace. We don’t approach God based on how good we’ve been. We approach Him based on how good Jesus is. That means your failure doesn’t have the final word. Your weakness doesn’t disqualify you. Your past doesn’t lock the door. Jesus opened the way.

MERCY FOR WHAT’S BEHIND YOU

Hebrews says we come so that we may “receive mercy.” Mercy meets us in our failures. Mercy says, You sinned, but there is forgiveness. Mercy says, You fell, but you can get back up. Mercy says, You wandered, but the Father is still calling you home. Some of us spend far too much time punishing ourselves for something Jesus already carried to the cross. Stop running from the One who already knows everything about you and still invites you to come.

GRACE FOR WHAT’S IN FRONT OF YOU

But the verse doesn’t stop with mercy. We also “find grace to help in time of need.” Mercy deals with what we’ve done. Grace gives us what we need for what comes next. You may not have strength for next month. You may not have answers for next year. You may not know how everything is going to work out. But God promises grace “in time of need.” In other words, when you get there, grace will be there. Grace for today’s battle. Grace for today’s decision. Grace for today’s disappointment. Grace for today’s temptation. Grace for today’s responsibility. Grace for the step you’re standing on.

DON’T RUN AWAY—DRAW NEAR

Maybe today you feel unworthy to pray. Pray anyway. Maybe you’ve messed up. Come anyway. Maybe you’re exhausted. Come anyway. Maybe you don’t even know what to say. Come anyway. The enemy wants your weakness to drive you away from God. Jesus invites your weakness to drive you toward Him. Hebrews 4:16 doesn’t say crawl reluctantly toward God wondering whether He’ll accept you. It says:DRAW NEAR WITH CONFIDENCE. Not confidence in yourself. Confidence in Jesus. So whatever you’re carrying today, bring it to the throne. There is mercy for your yesterday. There is grace for your today. And there will be help when you need it.

COME BOLDLY.

You don’t have to clean yourself up before entering His presence. The reason you’re coming is because you need what can only be found there.