"Our God Cares" February 13 Readings: Leviticus 1-3, Matthew 26:30–46, Psalm 22:21–27, Proverbs 5:15-21

Today's Readings - Leviticus 1-3, Matthew 26:30–46, Psalm 22:21–27, Proverbs 5:15-21      

Devotional - Our God Cares 

Life is up and it is down. Highs and lows. Good times and bad. Sometimes everything goes our way and happiness abounds and sometimes there is a spirit of heaviness that settles around us. 

Psalm 22 is a lament about suffering, written by David in response to the pain in his life. But it also has messianic dimensions - pointing toward Jesus Christ. In a deep time of suffering, the Psalmist reached toward heaven and he learned something important. Jesus himself used this Psalm in his time of greatest suffering when the full weight of sin fell upon him and he called out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" in verse 1. Few psalms better express the cry of the hurting heart better than Psalm 22. 

In Psalm 22:24 there is a promise made that is a great comfort to those whose hearts are broken or those who are in pain. 

For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He did not hide His face from him but listened when he cried to Him for help.

There are a lot of hurting people out there. I talk to pastors who are hurting, church members whose lives are devastated, and of course the lost and unchurched who live life without the hope of Christ. Suffering is not limited to one group or the other. There are people who read these posts who are sad and discouraged by life. Money. Marriages. Relationships. Loss and grief. Stress and pressure. Abuse. We'd like it if being a good Christian meant we were never sad, discouraged or depressed; if we never failed. You are not perfect, nor am I. And the sinful world can strike against any of us, no matter how spiritual we are. 

It helps to have friends and Christian family around us when we are experiencing pain. But we must never forget that there is One who "has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted." He does not hide his face from us, but instead his "listened when he cried to Him for help." He hears. He cares. His heart is moved by our pain and suffering. 

God cares about the torment we go through. We can turn to him for help and healing. 

Father in Heaven, I thank you that my suffering is not to small for you to care about. You are amazing. I turn to you for the help I need when I am hurting. A God who cares, a God who listens when I cry for help - that is good wonderful for words. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

Think today about the things or the people in life that have injured you deeply.
Remember that God cares about your hurt and will be your ever-present help in trouble.