“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16

Just.  It’s a very small but significant word.   On the one hand it can be used to defend actions as reasonable, proper, righteous, deserved and lawful.  On the other, it can be used to express a lack of certainty, low expectation, or a lesser degree than desired.  As Christians we often use “just” inappropriately in our discussions with others and in our prayers.  The problem is that we often use the stronger version of the word in relationship to ourselves and the weaker version in reference to God.  When we do this, we think of ourselves “more highly than we ought to think” and underestimate God.

“I was just ___” You can fill in the blank with any number of words or phrases.  Some of the common ones are: curios, overwhelmed, defending myself, making sure that they were prayed for, etc.  In these cases we are often erroneously defending actions that were less than honorable.  In other words, we are taking a stronger position to justify our actions.  For example, the person who becomes addicted started out with a curiosity; the person failing to control their speech was either overwhelmed or defending themselves; or the one who knows that they shouldn’t gossip, finds an excuse to share information that they shouldn’t.  Rather than acknowledging, accepting responsibility for, and confessing our sin, we justify our actions as if they were completely beyond our control or were rational, reasonable and righteous.

In contrast, we often come before our God and ask “God if You would just ____.”  It may be a phrase that we unintentionally learn from others, or it may be due to our own struggles and insecurities.  Either way, it promotes a concept contrary to scripture that I’ve been confronted with several times over the past few months both in discussions with other Christians as well as social media posts.  While the latter may have been presented in either serious or humorous form (both of which can be effective), the point is well made that we underestimate God’s ability and/or willingness to meet our needs.  In a sense, we are bargaining with God as in, “God I want this great thing, but realize you may not want or be able to provide that, so just give me this lesser thing.”

With respect to ourselves, we have no position of strength within our being.  We are called to a life of godly discipline, yet we often falter.  Paul acknowledges this fact in Hebrews 12:1 when he tells us to “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us”.  In the previous chapter he provides a list of imperfect, but faithful, godly people and points to them as a source of encouragement to endure…they did it, so can we. In 2 Timothy 1:7 he reminds us that, as faithful servants, we are given a spirit of power, love and discipline which we must acknowledge and employ. Finally in Hebrews 4:14-15 we’re provided the foundation of our strength.  “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”  Our loving Savior understands both our condition and our circumstances and is at work to both protect and to strengthen us.  When we stop trying to condone our actions, admit our weakness and confess our sins, we open the door to receive the righteousness and strength of Christ.  It is the combination of Christ’s atoning work and our faith in Him that gives us the privilege and right to come boldly before the throne of God to request mercy and find grace.

“God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.”  (The Westminster Shorter Catechism’s definition of God)  There are no weak words when considering God.  He is the perfect and complete model of these attributes to which all others should be compared.  Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that He is capable of more than we can ask or imagine.  This is the God sitting on the throne of mercy and grace to whom we come with our needs and desires.  He is most certainly able and willing to meet our needs.

In the end, “just” is a somewhat ambiguous word that should cause us to pause and reflect when we feel the need to employ it.  Rather than using it to elevate ourselves and lower our expectations of God, we need to remember who we are and who God is.  When we acknowledge in faith that we are weak and sinful humans who are made strong and able through the power and sacrifice of Christ and who grow in strength through the work of the Holy Spirit, then we are bestowed the blessing to come boldly before Almighty God to worship Him and to pour out our requests before Him who is able and willing to do more than we can ask or imagine.   Further, by submitting our will to His in recognition of His perfect wisdom, plan, love and faithfulness, we understand that at times, He will grant our requests and more, while at other times, our requests will be fulfilled with the ability to endure with grace.

Whatever needs, concerns or fears that you have today, may you find strength in Christ your mediator to come boldly before the throne of God to worship and pour out your requests.

Will