Do you remember the old hymn:
There’s not a Friend like the lowly Jesus:
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our souls’ diseases:
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles;
He will guide ’til the day is done.
There’s not an hour that He is not near us:
No, not one! No, not one!
As a child, I always wondered why we were singing about a lonely Jesus. It wasn’t until I grew older that I realized the hymn says lowly Jesus.
Lowly means meek, humble, and approachable.
What a beautiful picture of our messiah, Jesus the Christ.
As redeemed children of God, we need to remember that even on our worst day—our ugliest day, our angriest day, our least loving day—Jesus is still our lowly, approachable Friend. He is still our compassionate High Priest and the Lover of our souls.
Hebrews 4:15 (KJV) says:
“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 doesn’t merely know about our struggles intellectually. He knows them experientially. He understands our innermost thoughts, desires, feelings, weaknesses, temptations, pains, traumas, triggers, abusive tendencies, and ungodly longings. He knows every hidden battle we fight.
And yet He still says, “I want you. I want to give you what you need to walk in full wholeness.”
What incredible grace.
What Are Our Infirmities?
When Scripture speaks of infirmities, it isn’t simply referring to sin itself. Infirmities are the weaknesses, conditions, and struggles that make us vulnerable and can tempt us toward sin.
Our infirmities can be:
- Physical struggles
- Emotional struggles
- Mental struggles
- Spiritual struggles
They often show up in everyday life as:
- Physical exhaustion and burnout after prolonged labor
- Unhealthy or unresolved grief
- Discouragement after repeated disappointments
- Long battles with unhealthy habits
- Ongoing wrestling with doubts
- Hunger, malnutrition, or extreme thirst
- Deep wounds from rejection
These are real struggles. Jesus understands every one of them.
Jesus Understands Rejection
One powerful example is found in Luke 4:28–30.
After Jesus spoke in the synagogue, the people became so enraged that they drove Him out of town and led Him to the edge of a cliff with the intention of throwing Him off. Can you imagine that?!?!?!
How do you think Jesus felt as He walked away? How would you have felt?
Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly what emotions He experienced. But it does tell us what He did.
He never clapped back.
He never lifted his hand at them.
He never put his foot on them.
He never used His words as weapons.
He simply passed through their midst and went on His way.
Jesus was touched with the feelings of rejection, betrayal, misunderstanding, loneliness, temptation, and pain—yet He never sinned.
That means He understands exactly what we feel when we’re wounded, even though He calls us to respond differently than our flesh desires.
Four Ways to Find Freedom from Our Infirmities
God has not left us powerless. Through Christ, He has provided everything we need to overcome.
- Go boldly to the throne of grace.
Hebrews 4:16 tells us to come boldly to God’s throne so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.
Go boldly.
Go regularly.
Go unashamedly.
Don’t wait until you’ve cleaned yourself up. Bring your weakness to the One who already understands it.
- Take advantage of the Holy Spirit living within you.
The Holy Spirit is not merely a comforting presence. He is our Helper. He provides guidance when we’re confused. He produces self-control when our emotions want to rule us. He strengthens us when we feel too weak to stand.
Lean on Him daily.
- Let the Word of God dwell richly in you.
When God’s Word fills our hearts, it begins speaking louder than our feelings. The truth reminds us who God is, who we are in Christ, and how to respond when we’re tempted to compromise.
God’s Word can literally talk you through harmful situations before they become harmful decisions.
- Look for God’s way of escape—and take it.
God always provides a way of escape from temptation.
Sometimes it’s walking away. Sometimes it’s remaining silent. Sometimes it’s making a phone call. Sometimes it’s changing your environment. Sometimes it’s simply crying out to Jesus before you react.
The escape is there. Look for it. Take it.
You Have to Want Freedom
Jesus is always near to help you rest in the freedom He offers.
The same Savior who is touched by the feeling of our infirmities also invites us to rise above them. He doesn’t shame us for our weaknesses. He meets us in them, walks with us through them, and empowers us to overcome them.
There truly is not a Friend like the lowly Jesus.
No, not one.
