The One Who Sees Our Sorrows
My class has been learning about Moses and the exodus from Egypt this month in Bible class. It never ceases to amaze me how I can teach through the same Bible passage year after year, and each and every time, something jumps out at me from the midst of words so familiar I could almost quote them from memory.
Exodus 3-4 is one of those passages.
Perhaps it was because I am reading through the book of Job at the moment, or perhaps God just wanted to remind me, but for whatever reason, the following verse stood out to me as I read through the conversation between God and Moses in Exodus 3. Look at what God says in verse 7:
“And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows”
Have you ever considered the enormity of the truth that God Himself sees your sorrows?
Psalm 139 gives us a glimpse of God’s unlimited knowledge:
“O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.” (vv.1-3)
But it’s not just about the fact that God sees, or that He knows all about us: it’s the fact that, seeing and knowing, He cares.
The persecuted psalmist prays,
“Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book? When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.” Psalm 56:8-9
And Jesus Himself said,
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)
For we who have placed our faith in Christ, we have the confidence of knowing that our God—the same God who made the entire universe—knows and cares about the sorrows we experience.
It’s an amazing concept, but what does that actually mean for us in our day-to-day lives?
Hebrews 4:14-16 gives us an application:
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
The reality of a God who sees our sorrows should motivate us to take each and every one of them to Him, knowing that He both knows and cares, and that He is the only true source of consolation.
“Blessed be God, even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
God has a plan for our sorrows, but that does not mean He is heartlessly watching us go through them. He wants to walk with you through the sad valleys of life. He wants to be your source of comfort.
So, what about you, dear Reader? What sorrows is God inviting you to bring to Him today?
Whatever your burden of heart may be, run to God with it, and remember that your God sees your sorrows. His good and loving purpose does not mean you have to walk alone and comfortless.
Take your sorrows to Him. Let Him walk with you through the valleys of life, and take comfort in presence of the God who both sees and cares.
“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28