He Cares Deeply About Our Suffering

"Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled." John 11:33 The setting: Jesus was close to a particular family, the family of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus who lived in Bethany. One day, his precious friend Lazarus died. When Jesus was told, he waited on his Father for the right time to go comfort them, and only when the Father indicated, he left for Bethany. When he arrived, he saw a great crowd of mourners there to comfort Mary and Martha in their grief. Their grief was overwhelming, and when Jesus saw it, it touched him deeply. His heart groaned, he felt their pain intensely. The Scripture says, "Jesus wept." (John 11:35) We don't often think of God as someone who cares about our troubles. We think he's so happy in heaven that he remains aloof from what we suffer. Nothing could be further from the truth. He cares, and he cares deeply. When we are stricken with grief, he feels it right along with us. "For we do not have a High Priest WHO CANNOT SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16 Yes, friends, he cares. He is filled with sympathy for our sufferings. But he sees them from an eternal perspective, knowing that these very things are going to be used to mold us into mature saints with virtue that will last forever. When you discipline your child, he might think you don't care about his suffering and he might even hate you for it. He won't understand it until he has children of his own; only then will he realize the pain in your heart as you had to meet out discipline and training for his good. God has our eternity in mind, and he allows the events of this time of our sojourn on earth to prepare us for eternity. "...but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5 Going back to our passage in Hebrews: vs 16: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." In other words, accept the suffering and bring it to the one who sympathizes with our troubles, and who is standing ready to impart to us all that we need in order to overcome and succeed in all that he desires the trials to produce in us. Come boldly therefore to the Throne of Grace and obtain from his loving heart all the strength and wisdom and help that he makes available to all who approach him this way. God loves you, far more than you know. And God IS Faithful! MORE: When Life Hurts