by Betsy Childs

I have a sister who is a year older than I am and who was always one year ahead of me in school. This caused occasional frustrations (such as the fact that teachers would frequently call me by her name), but most of the time I was very grateful to have someone blazing a trail ahead of me. I counted on her to recommend the best teachers, to make a good impression on them, to help me figure out which dorm to live in, and whatever else I needed to know to get by. No new phase of life seems as scary when someone else has already been through it and lived to tell about it.

The Scriptures encourage us to take heart in the fact that Jesus Christ walked this earth, with its trials and temptations, as our elder brother. He not only faced life, he also faced death and all that awaited us beyond the grave. We read in Hebrews 4:14-16, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

It is as if we have suddenly found ourselves in the midst of a briar patch; we cannot extricate ourselves without being pricked on all sides. But Jesus stands at the edge, having made his way out. He gently instructs us, one step at a time: "Step there; now, there," warning us of the thorny patches and guiding us out without injury.

But our situation is much more dire than being caught in a briar patch. Perhaps instead we should picture ourselves about to face a formidable enemy, walking up the road to meet him and do battle. Christ says to us, "Wait here while I go ahead. I will conquer the enemy before you get there." We must still walk the road, but we can do it with the confidence that one stronger than us has met the enemy.

Christ not only defeated death, he demystified it. It doesn't hold the same fearsomeness for us because we know someone who has already journeyed through it. Likewise, temptations lose their powerful edge when we refuse to believe the lie that no one else has ever felt this way or wanted to give in so much. Jesus was tempted in every way, as we are, but he didn't give in. He also intercedes for us as one who knows what temptation feels like.

Whether you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death or merely stuck in a thorny situation, you have great reason for hope. Someone else has been there first. Through it all, he will be your counselor, guiding you safely home.

Let us journey on... with guidance...