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The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?—Psalm 27:1
Here David celebrates the only place he can find hope—in the presence of the Lord. To be David’s light, salvation, and stronghold, the Lord must be near. In the pain of unthinkable things David says, “God, it’s your presence that lights my way, it’s your presence that gives me hope that I will be delivered from evil, and it’s your presence that provides refuge for me when it seems that there is nowhere to run.”…
Our hope is not found in understanding why God allowed suffering into our lives. Our hope is not found in the belief that somehow we will tough our way through. Our hope is not found in doctors, lawyers, pastors, family, or friends. Our hope is not found in our resilience or ingenuity. Our hope is not found in ideas or things. Though we may look to all those for temporary help, ultimately our hope rests in the faithful and gracious presence of the Lord with us.
He is not weakened by what weakens us. He is not confused by what confuses us. He does not suffer from the mood swings that afflict us. He is not afraid like we are. He never makes a bad decision. He never finds himself out of control. He never wants to take back his words. He never regrets the way he’s behaved. He never responds impulsively. His choices are never driven by anxiety. He never dreads the next day. He never wants to give up. He is never frustrated by an inability to make a difference. He is with us, but the reason this is so wonderfully comforting is that he is completely unlike us in every way. He is limitless in power, he has authority over everything, he is perfect in every way, he dwells with us, and he assures us that he’s not leaving.—Paul David Tripp1
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Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie were Dutch Christians. During the Second World War, they and their family were arrested and then sent to a concentration camp for harboring and helping Jewish fugitives. While they were incarcerated, Betsie became sick and died. Before she went to glory, she told Corrie to tell the world that “there is no pit of suffering so deep that Jesus is not deeper still.”
What did Betsie mean? She meant that Jesus is not aloof from our pain or beyond suffering, like the gods of other philosophies or religions. No, Jesus has entered into the worst of our suffering. He has experienced life as a fugitive, an exile, and a victim of great injustice. He has suffered what we suffer and He understands. Whatever pit of pain we enter, He is deeper still. If your heart is broken today and you need comfort, know that God Himself is with you, drying your tears, holding you close, saying, “I am with you.”—Mark Stibbe2
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Most people try not to think about it more than they have to, but there’s no denying it: There’s a lot of suffering in the world. Innocents are killed, maimed, and made homeless in cruel and unjust wars. More suffer the same in natural or manmade disasters. Cancer and other diseases claim millions of lives each year, often after months or years of pain. There’s no end to it. Why does life have to be this way? It’s the age-old question: Why does God allow suffering?
While we cannot understand all of His reasons and purposes for allowing suffering, one thing is certain: How people come through suffering or react to the suffering of others depends largely on their faith. Those who have implicit faith in a just and loving God call out to Him in their time of need and find the grace and strength to rise above their pain and loss.
Little is known about the personal suffering of Frank E. Graeff (1860–1919), but he must have been writing from experience when he penned his now famous hymn, “Does Jesus Care?” The pain he expresses is too real to have been mere fabrication, and only one who has been there could express the truth and hope found so victoriously in the chorus. “Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief. … I know my Savior cares!”
Suffering is part of life, but that wonderful faith and assurance of God’s care and presence in the midst of our suffering can be yours too.—Activated magazine
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Does Jesus Care?
By Frank E. Graeff
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
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One implication of My uninterrupted Presence with you is that you are never alone. I am training you to be increasingly aware of Me, but I understand that you are human and your attention span is limited. Sometimes when you are suffering, you may feel as if you’re alone or abandoned. However, I suffered alone on the cross so that you would never have to be alone in your struggles. You are always with Me; I hold you by your right hand.
I am training you in patient endurance. This lesson is not for the faint-hearted. However, it is a rich blessing—one aspect of sharing in My kingdom and My suffering.
Since My kingdom is eternal, it is of infinite value. And I have made it clear that sharing in My sufferings is necessary for sharing in My glory. Moreover, this experience produces real benefits in the here and now—character.
Patient endurance can be developed only through hardship. So make every effort to welcome the very problem you dread. Bring it into My presence with thanksgiving, and acknowledge your willingness to endure it as long as I deem necessary. Ask Me to take this dark, ugly thing and transform it into something lovely. I can weave bright, golden strands of Glory into the most heart-wrenching situation. It may take a long time for this lovely pattern to emerge, but this waiting can build patience. Rejoice, beloved, for I am polishing your character till it shines with the Light of My Glory.—Jesus3
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“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—The Apostle Paul (Romans 8:35, 37–39)
Published on Anchor June 2023. Read by Reuben Ruchevsky. Music by John Listen.
1 Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense (Crossway Books, 2018).
2 Mark Stibbe, God’s Word for Every Need (Destiny Image Publishers, 2016).
3 Sarah Young, Jesus Always (Thomas Nelson, 2017).
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