He’s been there, too

He’s been there, too There’s something profoundly comforting about knowing that God doesn’t love us from a distance—that He understands our pain. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, NIV) I love the fact that Jesus didn’t float above human emotion. No, He embraced it and felt it all. He was, as the prophet Isaiah says, “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.” (Isaiah 53:3, NLT) He knew betrayal, loneliness, and tears. He faced temptation and heartache—not as an observer, but as one of us. Max Lucado once wrote a story about a woman who confronted him about one of his books, saying, “My Jesus did not have pimples!” He responded in kindness and said, “But wouldn’t it be nice to know if He could have?” The truth is, the humanity of Jesus makes Him relatable. He might have known headaches, hunger, even the ache of rejection. And that doesn’t diminish His divinity at all—it magnifies His incredible empathy. When I feel misunderstood, or when grief weighs heavily on my shoulders, I remember the Jesus that I know. He’s been here too. The same Jesus who wept at Lazarus’ tomb now promises me that “He will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 21:4, NIV) And I am so thankful for His promise to me. That’s Him. That’s Jesus—the God who understands my feelings. Jesus, thank You for walking our roads, feeling our pain, and understanding our tears. When we feel weary or unseen, remind us that You know—that Your compassion is not theory, but actual experience. I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. Never forget, my friend, you are a miracle. Your friend, Grant Fishbook