Where is God in my specific pain?
God is not distant from your pain; He is near to it. He knows your specific tears, He is with you in the valley, and He has entered suffering Himself in Christ. His presence in pain is not a vague comfort but a covenant promise, and He is working even the deepest valley toward good.
This question arose from studying Why does God allow suffering and evil?.
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What the Scripture says
God draws near to the broken
The psalmist says it plainly: 'Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.' God does not wait for you to be whole before He comes close; He is nearest when you are most broken. He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds, and He says He dwells with the contrite and humble to revive their spirit.
Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
He knows your specific pain
Your suffering is not anonymous to God. The psalmist could say to Him, 'You number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle.' Jesus taught that the very hairs of your head are numbered. This is not a God who handles suffering in general; this is a God who knows exactly what you are carrying, and who has counted it.
You number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren’t they in your book?
but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
He is with you in the valley
The twenty-third psalm does not promise we will never walk through the valley; it promises the Shepherd is there: 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.' God's word through Isaiah is the same: 'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.' And He adds, 'Don't you be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you.' His presence is the promise: He is with you always, even to the end of the age, a stronghold in the day of trouble who knows those who take refuge in Him.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.
teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Yahweh is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.
Christ entered our suffering Himself
In Gethsemane, Jesus said His soul was exceedingly sorrowful even to death, and He prayed that the cup might pass. He was 'a man of suffering, and acquainted with disease,' and at the tomb of His friend the Scriptures record two words: 'Jesus wept.' He does not watch our pain from a distance; He has known it, and He is able to help those who are suffering and tempted.
Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.” He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
He was despised, and rejected by men; a man of suffering, and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t respect him.
Jesus wept.
For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.
He is working it toward good, and one day He will wipe every tear
For those who love God, all things work together for good, even the things that feel nothing like good today. God is 'the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction' so that we can comfort others. And the end is not vague; it is a promise: 'He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes... The first things have passed away.' Even on the darkest day, He does not cast off forever; though He cause grief, He will have compassion, and He does not afflict willingly. Courage: in the world you have trouble, but He has overcome the world.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”
I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
For the Lord will not cast off forever. For though he cause grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
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Verses to meditate on
Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
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