“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Parenting in the trenches is exhausting. The physical and emotional demands of parenting extraordinary children can be depleting, creating vulnerabilities for parents who are trying to navigate the complexities of needs. These precious children require compassionate care, which can lead to caregiver burnout or compassion fatigue. The daily tasks can become rote, and sometimes, resentment takes hold as the necessary routines begin to feel more like a prison sentence than a loving service. Pastor Johann Heermann (1585–1647) penned the words of a hymn that express where we need to set our focus when in a vulnerable state:
Jesus, grant that balm and healing in your holy wounds I find
Every hour that I am feeling pains of body and of mind.
Should some evil thought within tempt my treach’rous heart to sin,
Show the peril and from sinning keep me ere its first beginning.
Jesus spent 40 days in the desert being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke4:1-13). Fasting created vulnerability, so Satan tempted him with food. But Jesus was unwilling to use his power for a selfish purpose; he was focused on the purpose of his life.
Jesus was 30 years into a journey that he knew would end in agonizing torture, humiliation, and death, so Satan tempted him with riches and power by twisting Scripture. Half-truths can sound appealing, but Jesus knew Scripture and used Scripture to overcome the temptations.
Jesus faced Satan alone; an absent support system is also a vulnerability. Only after Satan finished this intense period of direct confrontation did angels come and minister to him. Jesus did not succumb to sin, demonstrating that he truly is the Son of God. He is righteous and holy—so different from us! We are not sinful because we sin; we sin because we are sinful.
Ev’ry wound that pains or grieves me by your wounds, Lord is made whole;
When I’m weak, your cross revives me, granting new life to my soul.
Yes, your comfort renders sweet ev’ry bitter cup I meet;
For your all-atoning passion has procured my soul’s salvation.
Temptations continued for Jesus throughout the course of his life, but he never used his divine powers for his own benefit or glory. The temptations Jesus faced culminated at his betrayal, trial, and crucifixion. Again, Jesus found himself alone as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Not even his closest companions stayed awake and prayed with him while he suffered extreme mental distress. All of his disciples deserted him upon his arrest (Mark 14:50). He was tried, beaten, mocked, and hung on a cross. Full of power, he could have stopped his suffering at any moment, but he emptied himself and submitted to this course. In his death, Jesus paid the cost of all mankind’s sins. By his resurrection, he conquered death.
O my God, my rock and tower, grant that in your death I trust,
Knowing death has lost its power since you crushed it in the dust.
Savior, let your agony ever help and comfort me;
When I die, be my protection, light and life and resurrection.
Pastoral counseling, professional counseling, and support groups are wonderful resources for those in the trenches. As you are able, reach out to others in your community for support. And if you are a parent feeling the vulnerabilities of being alone in the struggle, remember that Jesus is with you. He understands our weaknesses, from temptations during direct confrontations to the subtle temptations of compromise. He was “tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin.”
When we are feeling weak and vulnerable, we find strength and help in Jesus. His Word is filled with this message of hope and promise. We can cry out to Jesus in prayer, just as Jesus cried out to his Father in the garden. Reading the Bible and prayer go hand-in-hand. We hear God through his Word, and we respond to his Word in prayer, often recalling the promises from his Word as we seek his help and comfort. It is in him, by him, and through him that we carry on, even in the trenches.
Dearest Jesus, understanding and compassionate Lord, please grant healing to my weary body and mind. Revive me and strengthen me. Your comfort, precious Jesus, turns every hardship into blessing. Grant me eyes of faith to see. Enlighten my mind to understand, and ready my feet to walk in grace. I pray in your name. Amen.
by Rebeckah Ellinghuysen