The litany of suffering in our world can seriously jack with our concept of God. And although we would hate to admit it, sometimes we wonder, Does God even care?
Our Concept of God Matters
Trauma, pain, abuse, rejection, betrayal, brokenness, disease…
Such suffering can make it challenging to trust a God who allows so much anguish. No wonder we end up playing like we trust God while privately wondering inside, Does God care about my pain?
I’m a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Since 2007, when God initiated a healing journey, He has brought much healing to my soul. It’s still an ongoing journey. And healing how I see God is a massive piece of continuing to heal mentally, emotionally, and even physically.
Does God Only Care About Your Behavior?
I don’t know about you, but for the longest time, all I really thought God cared about was my behavior. Not me necessarily, but my behavior.
And so, for years after I became a believer, I would start each day with the following scripture…
Search me, O God, and know my heart, test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalms 139:23-24
After reading these verses, I would open my journal and begin to list all the ways my behavior and thought life disappointed God and made Him sad. I carried on like that for years. And in doing so, I constantly felt like all I would ever be was a massive disappointment to God.
Or Does God Have Empathy?
But one day, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see those verses in a new light…empathy.
Does God have empathy? Does God even care?
Let’s reread those verses. Except this time, let’s ask the Spirit to open our hearts to God’s empathy and care.
Search me, O God, and know my heart, test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalms 139:23-24
I now believe God cares deeply about you and about me. I believe God knows our hearts, and He knows our thoughts. And when He searches you, he sees the wounds of your heart that drive your thinking. God sees the wounds of your heart, causing you to doubt His love and goodness. And those wounds, not the behavior, make God sad and full of empathy.
I believe God wants to point out the wounds of your heart so you’ll trust Him with them. Trust Him enough to let Him take you on a healing journey. Trust Him enough to process your way through the pain. Untangling your soul and healing your heart.
Does God Even Care? Yes!
Now, when I read or even think about Psalms 139:23-24, I get an immediate sense of God’s understanding. His empathy. His concern and care. Which drives me right into the healing power of His love.
God is crazy about you!
You, Beloved, are not a disappointment to God.
On the cross and in His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus took care of your sins…past, present, and future. Done. It is finished.
Now, in Christ, you are robed in righteousness…the righteousness of Christ imputed to you. According to Isaiah 61, you are an oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor!
Grace
Now that you know, there’s another way of interpreting the verses from Psalms 139 – a way of seeing them that moves you away from wondering, Does God even care? A way that drives you right into the healing power of God’s love! Let’s experience God’s empathy, concern, and care.
Just for a few minutes, quiet your mind and read through our verses again, filtered through the lens of grace. Filtered through the lens of God’s empathy, concern, and care.
Search me, O God, and know my heart, test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalms 139:23-24
Dear Jesus, open our eyes to your amazing grace. You came to bind up the brokenhearted. To set us free from darkness. To comfort and provide for those who grieve and suffer with a mindset of despair. Heal the wounds that lie under the behaviors. Recalibrate our hearts. Rewire our minds. We don’t want to pretend like we trust You. We want to wholeheartedly trust you. So may it be, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Want more amazing truths that will move you away from wondering, Does God even care? And drive you right into the healing power of God’s love?! And Bonus! There’s also a printable daily prayer and affirmation PDF based on God’s Word. Click this link for 33 Brilliant Verses to Help Transform Your Thought Life!
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Thanks for stopping by! Until we meet again, remember – Trusting in Jesus, you’ll have more treasure than pockets. From my heart to yours,
