You are not alone. This world is full of heartache and pain. Human distress is everywhere around us in the way of chronic illness, persecution, poverty, unrealized dreams, and job struggles. Women and men are in bondage to guilt, fear, destructive behavior, and fatigue due to the burden of responsibilities. Broken relationships leave people with a sense of rejection, worthlessness and extreme loneliness. Add to those any feelings of uncertainty often revealed by the questions we ask about life.

Sadly, if you have been taught that God doesn’t care or is punishing you for something you’ve done wrong, you aren’t likely to trust Him for help. This may leave you feeling empty, confused, and without meaning and purpose. The Bible describes that as being “without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). Hopeless. Godless. But God looked upon your life with compassion and provided a solution—His Son Jesus Christ. He is God in the flesh, the God of hope and love, and He understands every single one of your heartaches.

Jesus experienced human life for more than 30 years. He gets your physical pain, rejection, strained relationships, abuse, grief, and impatience because those were part of His life as well. Jesus interacted with men and women everywhere He went. And, there were so many who had heartaches and pain, filled with uncertainty about their future. Jesus looked upon the crowds of people with compassion. He not only felt their need but also wanted to do something about it. Jesus Christ’s plan to meet that need for every person was then, and is now, Himself. When you go to Him in prayer, you can trust that He understands, that He knows how you are feeling and what your needs are at that moment.

Christianity is Christ! It’s not a lifestyle or rules of conduct. It’s not a society whose members were initiated by the sprinkling or covering of water. We are called first and foremost to a relationship with a Person—Jesus Christ. We have not physically beheld the risen Christ as the apostles did. We must see Him through eyes of faith and allow the gospels to leap off the page revealing our Lord. When you study the gospel of Mark, you will learn about Jesus’ life on earth, how He related to people and why knowing Him brings hope to your life. Let your heartbreak, pain and uncertainty be overcome by Christ’s hope, healing and love.

Everyone who wants to know who Jesus is, why He came to earth, and what His life means for you today should study the gospel of Mark. It is the shortest gospel with only 16 chapters. Because Mark briefly describes scenes and activities, he is called the photographer of the gospels. Each section of writing is like a snapshot from Jesus’ life. Think slideshow, Facebook or Instagram. Mark answers two significant questions in his writing: 1) Who is Jesus? 2) How can I follow Jesus even when it’s tough? Those questions are relevant today as well. If your life is full of heartbreak, pain and uncertainty, let Jesus satisfy your heart with hope, healing, and love as you get to know Him and trust Him more each day.

The best way to study the Bible uses the inductive process. First, carefully observe the text. What does it actually say? Then, interpret the text. What was the author’s intended meaning for the audience that would read or hear it, including us today? And finally, apply what you learn. How do you live this out in your life? This is the best way to study the Bible. Look at what is there. Learn what it means and teaches you. Then, live it out in your life. All “Joyful Walk Bible Studies” use the inductive process.