God Cares About Your Suffering Even When People Don't

When People Wound Us

People can be mean. They hurt us, sometimes very purposely. They like to see us be hurt, cry, or feel angry and helpless. God cares about your suffering, even when others do not. Does anyone remember being bullied in school? Sometimes those scars last a lifetime. Has anyone ever had a verbally or physically abusive spouse? How about a parent who seemed to not really love you?

A friend of mine once shared how he was bullied relentlessly in middle school. Even decades later, he noticed that when he faced criticism at work he would feel as if he were back in school again. At one point, he admitted that he often felt like God had forgotten him.

Over time, however, he came to realize that even when those memories returned, God had never stopped seeing him or caring for him through every stage of his life. This kind of experience is not unusual. Scripture speaks directly into it.

God Sees the Suffering of His People

In all these situations there is a common thread. We often feel alone, as if we have no one to turn to who cares, or no one who really sees our pain. Even though we may not know it or even feel it, God cares. He feels your pain, as any truly loving parent does.

Our response to this is often, "Well, if He loves me so much why does He let this happen?" God hates sin and the damage it does to people. It is important to remember that God has never promised us a carefree life. Suffering is part of this fallen world. What we as His children need to remember is that our suffering will end and be replaced with an eternity of joy. Those who reject God don't have that promise. Throughout Scripture God reminds us of His loving care.

In Exodus 3:7 God says He has heard the cries of His people in Egypt and He was concerned over their suffering. God doesn't stop at just being concerned. He acts by sending them a deliverer—Moses.

God has heard your cry as well. He is just as concerned about your suffering as he was His people in Egypt. We can't know ahead God's plan for us, but we know He has sent our deliverer—Jesus.

Psalm 103:13 tells us that God pities those who fear Him. He crowns us with "tender mercies" (Psalm 103:4). He responds with justice (Psalm 103:6). It may not be something we ever see in this life, but He promises us that our enemies will not go unpunished.

Your Tears Are Not Forgotten

David writes in beautiful Psalm 56 and describes God's regard for us this way,

"You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?" Psalm 56:8

Imagine God loving us so much that He metaphorically takes our tears and saves them. They don't go unnoticed. They aren't forgotten. They are remembered. Knowing that our tears are precious to God allows David to have confidence.

David continues and asks, "Who should he fear?" There is no one to fear because God is for him. He trusts God to love him and protect him. "What can man do to me?" he asks.

When we are being abused or enduring suffering sometimes some of us believe we deserve it. Sometimes we just can't feel this love everyone tells us God has for us. It seems He doesn't have the time to help us because we don't really matter to Him. But we do matter—we mattered even before we were born (Psalm 139:13-14). He is near those who suffer.

We often struggle with unanswered prayer, feeling emotionally numb from abuse, or not feeling God's presence. When God is seemingly silent, that doesn't mean we have been abandoned by Him. Sometimes He is harder to hear because our pain is so great. We may even give up trying to hear Him. Even then, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Even when we struggle to feel God’s presence, Scripture gives us a clear direction for what to do next. We are called to continue trusting Him, seeking Him in His Word, and patiently enduring until He brings us through the trial.

One of the most difficult parts of suffering is waiting for it to end. Waiting seems endless when bad things are happening to us. The Bible often talks about endurance, being steadfast, or as it is often called, longsuffering. We don't see that term used much anymore, but isn't it aptly named. It is hard for us to see any reason behind suffering for long periods of time. We can't know ahead of time God's plan for us, but the Bible tells us that God's ways are not our ways. God will work His will even during difficult times.

Drawing Near to God in Pain

In Psalm 34:18 the psalmist reminds us that "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted." Perhaps we don't feel His care for us because we aren't close enough to Him. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." Have you tried drawing near to Him?

I remember seeking God once and saying, "I just need a hug. I need a physical hug from you Jesus." I had been going through a lot of tough times. I honestly didn't expect that prayer to be answered, but it was in a way I never expected. I started attending church again and went up for communion.

I realized that my experience of communion was a spiritual hug, if you will, from the Lord. He and I and all those present were united as one in love and family. I can't describe the powerful feeling of the Holy Spirit that day. Experiences like this remind us that God meets us in our pain, yet we still face a daily choice in how we respond to it. Do we turn inward and try to handle the pain ourselves, or do we trust Someone greater than ourselves to care for us?

Trusting God—God Cares About Your Suffering

Our loneliness and pain sometimes make us bitter. We don't trust God to watch over us. Maybe we aren't thinking about God at all. We just want the pain to stop so we take matters into our own hands. We need to rely on God, not ourselves. God can take our suffering and use it for good, just as He did with His own Son's suffering.

It is not the suffering itself that is good but the outcome can be. It can deepen our faith. It can help us be more empathetic to those around us who suffer. It can test us and refine us for His good use. Good purposes can be accomplished by God even through bad things.

This brings us back to something very fundamental. Do we trust God? Are we willing to give Him control of our emotions and our pain? Or do we stubbornly cling to the mirage of control over our lives that we think we have? Whatever happens to us, if we rely on God, we can face it. Do you believe He is a good God? Really believe?

Christ Remains Faithful in Every Trial

There is a popular song many of us have heard. In this song, there is a line that says, "All my life you have been faithful. And all my life you have been so, so good." The sinful actions of people that hurt us may make us doubt the truth of this. But our Jesus has a name, "Faithful and True" (Revelation 19:11). He stands with us in our trials and offers us a blessed home with Him in Heaven.

The trials that some Christians face make many of our bad times seem paltry by comparison. I may not ever be asked to give up my life for Christ, but whether the persecution is large or small, He sees the pain we carry. God has a plan in our suffering.

Remember, Jesus "is a friend that sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). He promises never to forsake us. There is so much comfort in that knowledge.

Call on Him in your sorrow. Seek Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Study His Word so you can be prepared for the onslaught of our enemy, Satan. Even in that battle, He is not distant.

He is there with loving arms ready to receive you, like the prodigal son returning to His Father. God cares about our suffering. Rejoice in knowing we are His beloved children. Even if no one else cares, He does above all.