Bible Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9
Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. Hebrews 5:8
One day when Shane’s older brother was riding his bike home from school, a car hit him and hurt him badly. When his brother had to spend long weeks in the hospital recovering, Shane was devastated. “My Sunday school teacher keeps telling me that God is always with me,” Shane says, “but I’m so sad for my brother. I’m sure that God can’t understand what I feel.”
Some Christians can’t believe God feels their loneliness and pain. They figure he can’t be touched by human emotions. But God isn’t way up in the sky somewhere, far removed from our real-life problems. He feels our joy, and he feels our sadness. And here’s what he might say to us when we hurt:
• “You can spot in the Bible so many times when my heart spilled over with kindness for lonely, hurting, empty people. I once met a woman from Samaria who came to a well by herself to get water (see John 4). I taught her how my love could satisfy her spiritual thirst.”
• “And then there was Zacchaeus (see Luke 19:2-10). Nearly everyone hated him for being a tax collector. But Zacchaeus had another problem. He was a little guy, the brunt of jokes. When I spotted him sitting in a tree as I passed by, I knew he was lonely. I invited myself to lunch at his house because I wanted him to know I cared about him.”
God knows what is going on inside of us-even when no one else does. Whether we feel happy or sad, we can’t hide from him. Do you doubt that? Listen to Psalm 139:1-2: “0 Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away.”
So when we say something dumb at school and the whole class laughs, he sees. When a brother or sister says something cruel and unkind, he knows. When we go to bed whimpering into a pillow, he hears. He understands our fear when parents fight. He’s always been there for us! And he always will be.
Jesus knows exactly what it’s like to feel down. But even more than that, he has already been a part of your painful experiences. When you feel the sting of even the biggest hurts in your life, you can be sure he knows and understands-and has been with you all along!
TALK: Does it scare you to realize that God knows everything about you? Why or why not? How can it help you to know God is with you every moment of your life?
PRAY: God, we believe that you’re here with us—right now and always—through good times and bad.
ACT: God is as close to you as close gets. Who needs that kind of support from you today?
