If God felt hunger, what is your excuse?

Day 1: He Actually Felt It

Rundown When Jesus went into the wilderness and fasted for 40 days, Matthew specifically notes that "He was hungry." It sounds obvious, but it’s a profound theological truth. We are quick to say, "Well, He's God, so it wasn't that bad." We imagine Jesus coasting through physical hardship on a cloud of divine privilege. But the Bible makes it clear that God doesn't have physical needs—mankind does. By feeling the deep, gnawing pain of starvation, Jesus proved He stepped fully into our human reality. He didn’t just play the part; He lived it.

The Challenge When we go through seasons of physical exhaustion, emptiness, or depletion, we tend to run to distractions. We pick up our phones, tune out the world, or look for quick comforts. Jesus used His hunger to drive Him closer to the Father, realizing that human strength is never enough. Are you using your moments of weakness as an excuse to numb out, or as a trigger to lean into God's provision?

Action Step Skip one meal today, or fast from your biggest daily distraction (like social media or TV). When you feel that pang of hunger or the urge to check your phone, use that exact moment to pray and ask the Father for strength.

Day 2: The God Who Weeps and Sweats

Rundown If Jesus is only a distant God, He can’t relate to your daily struggles. But Hebrews tells us we have a high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses. In John 11, Jesus stood before the tomb of Lazarus and wept. He already knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, yet the grief of losing a loved one still hit Him hard enough to cry. In Luke 22, the anxiety of the impending cross was so heavy on Him that He sweat drops of blood. Jesus knows what a panic attack feels like. He knows what deep, chest-crushing grief feels like.

The Challenge We often transfer the flaws of our earthly fathers onto our Heavenly Father. We assume He is distant, disappointed, or telling us to just "get over it" when we are hurting. But Jesus proves otherwise. There is no anxiety, grief, or overwhelming dread that you can experience that Jesus is unfamiliar with. Will you trust Him with your heaviest emotions, knowing He has been there too?

Action Step Take five minutes today in total silence. Bring the thing that is causing you the most stress or anxiety right now directly to Jesus. Speak to Him not as a distant manager, but as someone who intimately knows the weight you are carrying.

Day 3: The Sting of Betrayal

Rundown It is one thing to be attacked by an enemy; it is entirely different to be sold out by a friend. In Matthew 26, Judas agrees to hand Jesus over for 30 pieces of silver. Jesus wasn't blindsided by this; He knew exactly what Judas was going to do. Yet, He still washed Judas’s feet and shared a meal with him. Jesus knows exactly what it feels like to have people talk behind His back, to have trusted friends abandon Him, and to be deeply misunderstood by the public.

The Challenge When people hurt us or betray our trust, our immediate fleshly reaction is to retaliate, build walls, or write them off entirely. We wrap ourselves up in our pain like a security blanket because holding a grudge feels more comfortable than doing the hard work of forgiveness. Jesus modeled a different way. He endured the ultimate betrayal and still chose to lay His life down. As far as it depends on you, are you living peaceably, or are you harboring bitterness?

Action Step Identify someone who has frustrated, hurt, or spoken poorly of you recently. Instead of dwelling on how to defend yourself or get even, pray specifically for their well-being today.

Day 4: Dropping the Ultimate Cop-Out

Rundown "But I'm not Jesus." It’s the ultimate excuse in the church. We use it when the Bible calls us to do something difficult, like submitting to our spouses, honoring our parents, or forgiving our enemies. We’d rather look at flawed disciples like Peter—who acted impulsively—and say, "See, I'm just like Peter!" But Ephesians 5:1 commands us to be "imitators of God." Scripture doesn't give us a free pass to hold onto our flesh just because we aren't perfect. We are called to look like the Son.

The Challenge When we use the "I'm not Jesus" excuse, we are essentially telling God that we prefer our own way over His. We want the Bible to bend to our comfort, rather than allowing the Bible to attack our heart idols. Sanctification is the hard, active work of fighting your flesh. When things get difficult, do you look for a theological loophole, or do you say, "Not my will, but Yours be done"?

Action Step Identify one area of your life—your temper, your pride, your spending, or your marriage—where you have been using the "I'm only human" excuse. Confess that excuse to God today and commit to holding that area to the standard of Christ.

Day 5: The Same Power

Rundown If you call yourself a Christian, then Romans 8:11 applies to you: the exact same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells inside of you. When Jesus walked out of the tomb, the grave clothes were left behind. He was completely unbound. We often act like we don't have the strength to change our attitudes, our marriages, or our bad habits. But if the Holy Spirit can push a literal stone away and resurrect a dead body, He can certainly help you overcome your flesh.

The Challenge Change doesn't start on a massive, global stage; it starts right inside your own home. It starts with how you speak to your spouse, how you parent your kids, and how you handle a frustrating day at work. You can't control other people, but you can control your own perspective and your own obedience. You are without excuse, because the power to change has already been given to you.

Action Step Pick just one specific thing in your life that you know needs to change today to make you look more like Jesus. Don't try to fix everything at once. Ask the Holy Spirit for the power to execute that one change, and do it.