Several years ago, my son John was playing on the front porch with his two sisters. I was inside the house but only a few feet away, watching through the window. John started crying and immediately crawled over to the door and started pounding on it. Normally, I would have opened the door and grabbed him and consoled him, but instead just waited because I knew he was really okay. I watched with intrigue as John looked through the door window, screaming, crying, and wondering where Dad was. Here’s the kicker – I was right there on the other side of the door and had been watching him the whole time. The sun was shining on the window pane in such a way that he couldn’t see me but I was right there with him. Just to clarify, I did eventually open the door, picked up my son, and gave him a big hug. This sequence of events only took a few moments but it did reinforce a lesson I would like to share.

All too often when we experience pain and trials in life, we wonder, where is God when I need Him? We wonder, does really God care? What we don’t realize is that God is very near to us. Just like the experience of my son John, we might not be able to see Him (1 Peter 1:8), but we can take comfort in knowing that God truly is with us. In the Old Testament, Moses told Joshua, “It is the Lord who goes before you, He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8). 

If you are “in Christ” (Romans 8:1), you are a child of the King. Just as God promised to care for Joshua and the children of Israel, the Bible assures us God will take care of you. 

Two thousand years ago, the God of the universe became a man. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Remarkably, Jesus was not immune from suffering. The book of Hebrews tells us that Christ “endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.” The author of Hebrews goes on to say that we are not to treat the example of Christ lightly. “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:2-3). 

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He came to reconcile those who, because of their sin, were at enmity with the holy God (2 Corinthians 5:18). And as Hebrews 2:17-18 explains. “He had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Jesus’ sufferings were not in vain. His shed blood and sacrifice on the cross paved the way for God’s people to be forgiven of their sins. Jesus is our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) which signifies that He is truly able to remove the stain of guilt from our sins, but along with that Jesus is an empathetic High Priest.

I don’t know what you are going through right now, but God does, and I can assure you that He cares. You can cast all your anxieties upon him. Why? Because He cares for you, more than you will ever know (1 Peter 5:7). No matter what you are going through, always remember that you serve a Savior who is not immune from suffering. The cross proves this. God is right there in the midst of your pain. And when you trust Him, He will show and even grow your faith (James 1:2-4).

One more thing. Don’t isolate yourself from fellow Christians. When left to ourselves, we open the door for the enemy of our souls to work on our minds. Don’t give the devil a foothold! Lean into other believers. The Body of Christ is a great gift from God to His people.  

Christian, you are not alone. God has given you all that you need for life and godliness. Run to Jesus, your precious Savior. He knows all that you are going through. His yoke is easy; His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). He is beautiful beyond description and is truly able to help you in everything.