He Knows and He Cares

This past month, the weight of grief has been heavy on my heart. As I have looked at the suffering around me and grieved deeply with dear friends, two verses have brought me much comfort in the midst of my tears and sorrow.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Isaiah 53:4a

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 

God is near to us when our hearts are broken. He saves us - saves our souls - when our souls are crushed under the weight of our grief and sorrow. And not only is God near to us in the midst of our brokenness, but he knows and understands our griefs and sorrows. Jesus himself bore them when he was pierced for our transgressions. We can feel like we are so very alone when we are grieving. Even when others are with us, we can feel as if they don't understand. But we are never alone. God is with us. Even when we don't feel that he is there, he is. And he understands. What a comfort it is to know that God understands our grief and our sorrow, and he understands it because he has borne this exact same sorrow and grief that we are bearing. He knows it perfectly.

In Isaiah 46:3-4, God says: "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save." 

God created every intricate detail of each one of us with the specific strengths and weaknesses that we have, and he has put us in communities with other people around us who also have strengths and weaknesses. And God has promised us that he who created us just the way we are will be faithful to us all the way to the end. His steadfast love toward us will never cease. His mercies freely given to us will never come to an end. He has made us, and he will bear our burdens with us - the burdens of disabilities, depression, physical ailments, financial need, broken families, and the death of loved ones. We will never walk alone. He will carry us. And one day, he will ultimately save us for all of eternity. One day there will be no more tears and no more grief and suffering. One day we will see Jesus face to face and all things will be made right. Oh glorious day!

And until that day, let us never forget that God hears our cries for help. God hears our groaning and weeping and grief. He sees our suffering. And he knows. He understands. He cares. He will never leave us or forsake us. Great is his faithfulness to us!