...Relief

A broken heart is quite possibly one of the hardest things to get over. 


Just when I think I'm doing OK, something will trigger a memory, which will in turn unleash some very strong emotions, which then causes an unrelenting spasm of tears. 


I came across Lamentations 3:49-50 today, which I feel is what my heart has been crying lately:


"My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees."


Do you ever feel like God doesn't see you? When I am in despair I often find myself thinking, "Doesn't God see me?? If He does, why doesn't He take all this pain away?? 

Genesis 15 tells the story of Hagar, a woman with a broken heart who was seen by God. In the midst of her brokenness God sees her and she responds to Him saying "You are the God who sees me."

What sticks out to me is that it seems God not only sees her, but He understands what she is going through. It's one thing for God to look at us and observe our condition, but it's something else for Him to really see and understand what we are going through.

Curious to know if there are any other passages that address God's seeing us, I did a search and found a few verses:

Psalm 10:14 - But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;

 
   you consider their grief and take it in hand. 


Psalm 33:13-15

13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— 15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

Psalm 138:6-7

6 Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. 
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.

The last two passages make it sound like God is aloof and distant from us, but that makes sense in the context of the Old Testament since God had not yet sent His Holy Spirit to dwell among us. The point is, though, that even from far away, God saw His people; how much more can He see and really understand us when His Spirit lives inside us?? God is not distant and removed from us, but very close and able to empathize with us in all our pain. 


The Footprints in the Sand poem describes perfectly how God is with us always. Even when it feels like we are alone God is present, and sometimes He is even carrying us. 


Your Hands is a wonderful song by JJ Keller that also reminds us that no matter what happens in our life, God always has us in His hands- the best hands we could ever be in.

"When my world is shaking, heaven stands. When my heart is breaking, I never leave Your hands."

<3