Do you believe in an empathetic and loving God? I have internalized this concept that God is not empathetic. Let me explain - when I am in pain either physically or emotionally, I more often then not envision God standing far off and going "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You should have known better then to allow that to happen." I know conceptually that it does not make sense, but that's how I often feel. I feel this heavy weight of expectation - if I was better, if I had been more careful, if SOMETHING, then I wouldn't be experiencing this pain.
I woke up this morning frustrated as my back had been bugging me a good deal last night and honestly, when that happens I tend to say "screw it" and have a few bad habits that kick in that do nothing to help the situation. I started to kick myself a bit this morning and then this thought struck me - God was sad with me last night; Jesus sympathizes with my weakness (Heb. 4:15).
I think the beauty of celebrating Christmas is this very fact - the God of the whole universe chose to come down suffer, struggle, experience pain so that we would see and know that he lived what we've lived. He truly can sympathize with us and all our pain and heartache - regardless of it being self-inflicted or other inflicted. He's here with us and willing to cry with us if we let him.
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