And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
Nehemiah 1:3
HOPE IN CHRIST
When you find yourself in great affliction and reproach, you may think it is hopeless. When you take inventory, and find that your walls have been broken down, you may think things can never be right again. But the good news of the Gospel is that there is hope in Christ—but only in Christ. Let me share some Bible verses with you:
Romans 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Any reproaches that you bear, Christ has already born them for you. If Christ is your Savior, all the arrows that have been shot at you landed on Jesus—he stands between you and your ‘reproacher’. The pain you felt was just the shudder of the arrow hitting Jesus. Satan wanted to destroy you—but he didn’t because Jesus took the arrow.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus knows intimately what we are going through. He knows, and He cares. His heart is touched for us. He overcame so He could show us the way to overcome.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Rest—that is what we want. Rest because we have found the way out. Rest because our battles have been won. Rest because we are resting in Him. There is a place of rest—near to the heart of God.