When we’re going through a rough, tough and challenging time, it’s natural for us to feel alone. We feel forgotten by God, or at least maybe not forgotten, but like we’re down on His list of priorities. Like there are other people He prefers to us and with whom He’d rather stay and help.
We may be physically alone and have every other person turned against us. Or we may even feel like no one could ever understand our pain or truly get our distress and suffering. Even when we may have sympathetic relatives or friends, we may even push them away so that we can suffer alone. Sometimes, we even want lick our wounds in private or suffer alone.
But we don’t get to do that. We can never be alone in our times of distress. Take a look at this:
In all their suffering He also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. (Isaiah 63:9 NLT)
Wait, what?
Yep. You read correctly. Now read that verse again. In as many translations as you can find.
You are never alone. God is with you in times of suffering. What’s more, He’s not just with you. He’s suffering along with you.
Isn’t this mind-blowing?
A true parent is in distress when their child is in distress. Many times, the parent is possibly in more distress than the child. Such is the nature of love. And there is no truer parent than your Father who is not just in Heaven, but also with you.
In this verse right here, we see Him both as Father and God. As a Father, He is touched with the feeling of your infirmity and He suffers with you. As God, He redeems and saves you and helps you find a way out.
I think it’s amazing that God is not oblivious or indifferent to my distress. If something bothers me and I’m sad, He’s not unaffected.
When you’re discouraged, confused, hurt, ill, needy, persecuted or overwhelmed, He’s not unaffected. He’s distressed.
I pray this strengthens your faith and trust in the love of God for you, His careful watch over you and His desire to move you forward. He’s always working something out. May we learn to trust Him and work with Him in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
