God knows

I think some people have a picture of God as this detached, cold, and indifferent deity; a god that is unmoved by the troubles of humanity.  Or perhaps they believe God is too busy or distracted to notice their private pain.  I can envision someone, with tears streaming down their cheeks, angrily crying out in frustration, “God, don’t you see that I’m in pain?  Do you even care?”  The answer to that emotional question is a resounding yes.  God sees, knows, and understands your immense suffering.  The reason I know this is because that’s what the Bible says.

Psalm 56:8 has been an important verse to me, but now that I’m in this new season of life without my dad it is very near and dear to my heart.  This verse reads, “You keep track of my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book” (NLT). So you are in a room in your house and the tears begin to flow.  You think you are alone and that no one sees these tears but the truth is God sees them.

 

Do you think that God is ignorant of your tears, or that God is oblivious to your pain?  Hear the word of the Lord.  “You keep track of my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book.”  The Bible says that God is intimately aware of every single shed tear.  Not one escapes His notice.  God isn’t so busy with the big calamities of this world that He somehow missed the pain you are in.  God knows.

Furthermore, I've been thinking about Jesus' attitude and demeanor as He interacted with His friends Mary and Martha, regarding the death of their brother, Lazarus.  Look at these words from John 11: “When Jesus saw her [that is, Mary] weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled” (John 11:33; NIV).  Underscore that.  Underline it.  Jesus was moved in His spirit and troubled by the pain of His friends.  
In verse 34, Jesus asks where they laid the body of Lazarus, they show Him; upon seeing him, the text says, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).  This is the shortest verse in all the Bible, but it's a wonderful verse, particularly when you understand its context.  Someone will point out that Jesus ultimately revives Lazarus.  It's true.  But don’t miss the fact that Jesus, God incarnate (God in human flesh), wasn’t indifferent to the pain of others.  Don’t think that God is indifferent to your pain, either.

Kevin