What Does God Feel When We Suffer?

My cat, Tabasco, recently had his teeth cleaned. The procedure required anesthesia, so I had to bring him to the vet on an empty stomach. That morning, Tabasco happily followed me to the kitchen, purring softly in joyful anticipation of being fed. But as I prepared my breakfast without giving him his morning portion, he looked at me in confusion, which quickly turned to shock.

Finally, he decided that more drastic measures were needed. He mustered his best “command” meow, poked me with his fully extended claws, and finished by nipping at my ankles. When none of this worked, he retreated to the other room to mope. To make matters worse, I soon forced him into his carrier and then abandoned him with strangers.

How do you think I felt watching him? Terrible, that’s how! I so wished I could explain to him what was happening. All I could do was pet him and talk to him, knowing full well that none of my words made any sense.

This little incident made me ponder how God feels when we go through difficult times. I’m not implying the two situations are comparable, but if I was hurting as I watched Tabasco’s discomfort, how much more must God grieve over our suffering, knowing that the reasons for what is happening to us are often beyond our understanding.

As I observed Tabasco, I realized I often respond the same way to life’s “why’s.” First, shock and confusion; then, accusations and rebellion; finally, resignation and depression. These reactions are common, and the pages of the Bible are full of people pouring out their pain and complaints to God. But the Lord is not indifferent to our plight. Just as I wished I could make Tabasco understand why I wasn’t feeding him, I’m sure God would gladly explain the reasons to us if only we could grasp his answer. Yet many truths are beyond our comprehension.

I have no idea what goes on in the mind of a cat, but I hoped Tabasco could still trust me despite his shock and confusion. The same goes for God. Even though we may not understand the pathways of our lives, and unanswered questions clutter our minds, the Lord says to us, “Trust me. I love you, and even though the reason for what’s happening is beyond your grasp, I’m right there by your side.”

To see God’s attitude toward us as we go through troubles, we don’t need to look any further than Jesus. His time on earth was marked by compassion, mercy, and love. He saw and felt our pain.

Do you trust him?

Picture: Carol Schlorff