"When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha." (John 19:13)
"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
Hitting the pavement
The bottom floor, so to speak.The verse from Hebrews comes back to me at times I feel I've made one too many mistakes or done something irreparable or strayed a little too far off that path I feel God would have me tread. Which is impossible. If all I can feel is I'm walking a tightrope (that's what funambulism is, by the way), the slightest step to the left or right of which will cause me to fall, life gets dry and miserable quickly. I cannot maintain the level of perfection in which Jesus walked. When I was a kid, I'd imagine how easy it'd be to walk a tightrope (more of a thin cord in my mind) with grooves scored into the soles of my sneakers. If only it were that easy.
"Whomsoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken..." (Luke 20:18a)
It starts here. God the Father draws us to His Son and in light of Him, we see just how broken we are. As He begins to build us up from His cornerstone, other parts of us come to light and they, more than likely, are not in keeping with everything inherent to Jesus's character. This isn't bad news. Anything not based on His temperament and personality is bound to be alighted upon by the Holy Spirit. This is what it means in the verse from Hebrews at the top. "Save[d] to the uttermost" means that Jesus will not skimp on nor overlook any aspect of you that's not really you. He made you, by God (I can say that--because I'm really talking to myself) and He's not about to let some erstwhile vestige of your character not be overhauled to be in keeping with Him. It's a long process--one that's never over. It says "He ever liveth to make intercession for [us]." This means He's always praying for us.
Keeping taut
I think about the ways my dad taught me about God. An oft-used analogy he'd pull out was that of a rope descending from Heaven, the which if you'd give a tug, you'd immediately feel a response. Now, sometimes the tugs we give stretch out over days, sometimes weeks. I guarantee you that if you want to feel God, He will make His presence known. It boils down to belief. How much do you believe God has your answers? Enough to keep moving, one foot in front of the other until God shows you how wide and broad His love for you is. The bedrock on which you find yourself?
God hears our every prayer. Yes, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:" (Psalm 66:18) and this is true. But if you continue to press in, should there be something you need to pray through, in order to have God hear your prayers, He's faithful to show you. When you accepted Christ, you're standing in Heaven is guaranteed for all time. You are one of God's children, the umbilical of which will never be severed.