You might think that God couldn’t possibly understand what you are going through. You might even think that God has forgotten you. After all, how could God know what I am suffering? How could God comprehend my pain? How could the God of the universe understand what it is to be me?
The bible tells us that He does understand — and not simply in an esoteric, far-away, technical sense — like knowing the depth of the Indian Ocean in meters. He knows in a real and experiential way what it is to be you and me. He knows the temptations you face today. He knows the aggravations and struggles and people issues you’re dealing with. And He knows all about pain and suffering too, the very kind you are going through right now.
Even though Jesus is God, and Hebrews 1 and 2 spell this out in surpassing detail. While the fact remains that He’s God’s Son, Heir of all things, God Himself, Creator of the universe, and greater than angels; he was also just like us. “He was made like his brothers and sisters in every respect,” (Hebrews 2:17). He became one of us. He let go of his divine status and became a real person. Talk about humble! He became a helpless baby that needed his dirty diapers changed. He went through the tumultuous, hormonal, pre-teen years (read: Middle School!). He worked as a young business person struggling to make payroll. He was tempted to give up on his calling. He was tempted to give in to selfish desires. He was misunderstood by his family. He was abandoned by those who said they loved him. He was betrayed and rejected. He suffered agonizing physical pain, excruciating mental anguish, and ultimately a humiliating death. Oh yes, He knows fully what it is to be you and me.
Why did he do this? “It was for people like us. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed,” (Hebrews 2:16-18 MSG). Did you catch that? He did it so that he could be a faithful priest who could actually help where help is needed. He took all this humanity on to help you and me. He took all the pain and temptation on to be faithful before God on our behalf even when we ourselves have lacked faith. He took on death itself to save us and set us free from our ultimate and inescapable enemy. “Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death,” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
Oh yes, He knows! And because of this, he understands and is not ashamed of you. It also means He is willing to help you in your struggle. Why not talk to him about it today? Just let it all pour out. Tell him about the pain, the fear, the anguish, the disappointment, the temptation, the sense of shame at having failed yet again. He’ll listen. Even if the words don’t come, just sit with him and wait. And if you will listen, he will speak the words that you need in a way that you can hear. He will restore you and bring you to peace. He understands you.
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