All of us, as Christians, at one time or another, sometimes very often, go through things that hurt and that we don’t understand. At such times, it’s tempting to wonder where God is in the midst of our pain. There are many things to be said about why He causes and/or allows unpleasant things to happen in our lives and these things are well beyond the scope of this article. However, one thread of truth that runs through it all is that He does see our pain and He does care. We can take comfort in that.
Matthew 10:29-31 says “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
The word translated “will”, here in the NKJV, is more properly translated “knowledge” or “caring”. He is watching everything you are going through. He loves you so much that the very hairs of your head are numbered. He knows and He cares. He loves you, so much.
In fact, he loves you so much that he records your tears. Psalm 56:8 says “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?”.
I was recently thinking about these passages of Scripture and it reminded me of something that happened when my daughter, Elizabeth, was little. She’s 18 now. Once, when she was probably 3 or so, she had a double ear infection and strep throat. I remember, she climbed up in my lap and started to cry. She said “Daddy, it hurts, please can you just make it stop, please daddy”. We had just started her on a course of antibiotics and I knew it would get better soon but it’s hard to make a 3 year old really understand and believe that. This daddy’s heart absolutely broke for my little girl. I held her tight, while her tears wet my shirt and my tears wet the top of her head. But you know what? After a little while, her tears stopped. The arms of her daddy around her were enough comfort that, even though it still hurt, she fell asleep on my chest. I didn’t want to put her down so we just sat like that, with her sleeping in my arms, for a very long time.
I think it’s like that with us and God. When we hurt, God grieves. I think He cries. Jesus did (John 11:35, Luke 19:41, Hebrews 5:7). We are made in His image and the parent child relationship is meant to symbolize the relationship between Him and us. I cried over my little girl hurting. Why wouldn’t God cry over His children hurting? He watches everything we go through. He feels it. He hurts for us. And He knows it’s going to be OK. But He knows that we often don’t understand that, because we can’t understand it, in the midst of what we’re going through, not knowing what He knows. Just like it was for me and Elizabeth.
He does care. Let Him hold you. Let Him comfort you. Tell Him it hurts. Cry on His chest. And know He’s crying too, because when you hurt, He hurts. Feel His arms around you. Because they are there. Take comfort from them. He cares. He’s got you. Whatever it is that you’re going through, you are going to make it through to the other side.
Having said that, don’t believe the lies of the prosperity gospel. God may not make it turn out just the way you want and there may be some bumps and bruises along the way and, when you get to the other side, it may not look exactly like what you had envisioned. However, contrary to how you may feel in the midst of it, you will get through it.
I have been through a whole lot in my life and a few things that God has taught me through it all is that His strength truly is made perfect in weakness and His grace truly is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). Also, that He truly does work it all for the good (Romans 8:28). However, in the midst of the struggle and the pain, it can be hard to see and understand that. It does get easier, with time and experience walking with Him. Still though, He tends to work on a much longer time table than we would like. He is working in our life, just like the antibiotic was working in Elizabeth’s little body, but, in the moment, we often don’t feel that, just like she didn’t, and so, just like she did, we say “Daddy, it hurts, please can you just make it stop, please daddy”. God understands what we’re feeling. Just like Elizabeth, we can take comfort in His arms. We may not fall asleep like she did but, in Him, we can find peace even in the midst of our troubles.
Philippians 4
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Climb up in His lap, be honest with Him, say “please daddy” (verse 6) and take comfort in His arms, His peace (verse 7). Take it from someone who has been there, a lot, if you hold on to Him, then it’s going to be okay. It really is.
