Day 2: He Sees and Understands Your Pain - God Has Not Forgotten You: A 31-Day Devotional by Leslie Barner

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. (Psalm 34:15)

God knows in great detail the devastation caused by tragedy. He understands the pain and sorrow acquainted with grief and loss. He understands because He is all knowing. Furthermore, Jesus endured suffering (see Isaiah 53), and experienced pain, even the pain of feeling abandoned (see Matthew 27:46). And because God is with you always, He knows that you are hurting. He sees your pain, and hears the cries of your heart. You are not alone in your suffering; He is there for you. 
God cares very deeply about you, and is attentive to every detail of your life—even those things that burden your heart. 1 Peter 5:7 says that you should cast "all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." Isn't it comforting to know that God Almighty cares about you! It may seem like your life has been shaken to the core, but His love for you is never shaken. "'For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My loving kindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,' says the Lord who has compassion on you" (Isaiah 54:10).
No matter how bad things may seem God is in control. Nothing happens without His knowledge. Matthew 10:29-31 says, "Not one sparrow (What do they cost? Two for a penny?) can fall without your Father knowing it. … So don't worry! You are more valuable to Him than many sparrows." If God's eye is on the sparrow, He's most certainly watching you. In the midst of sadness and uncertainty, His hand is there to guide you; His strength is there to support you. You are never out of His reach.
Taking back your life …

1. Look again at Isaiah 54:10 (above). How does this scripture apply to you and help to make your current circumstances bearable? 

1. The writer of Psalm 121 says this of God in verse 8, " He keeps His eye upon you as you come and go and always guards you" (TLB). How does it feel to know that God keeps watch over you and is attentive to every detail of your life?

1. In Psalm 138:8, the writer, offering thanksgiving and praise to God said confidently, "The Lord will work out His plans for my life—for Your loving-kindness, Lord, continues forever." (TLB). Why not take a few moments to express to God your confidence in Him to work out His plans for your life. 

Additional Scripture reading:

• Psalm 41:1  - Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!

•     The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.

• Psalm 121:3  - He will not let you stumble;

•     the one who watches over you will not slumber.

• Psalm 139:7-12,17,18 - 

• 
  

7 - I can never escape from your Spirit!

    I can never get away from your presence!

8 

If I go up to heaven, you are there;

    if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.

9 

If I ride the wings of the morning,

    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10 

even there your hand will guide me,

    and your strength will support me.

11 

I could ask the darkness to hide me

    and the light around me to become night—

12 

    but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.

    Darkness and light are the same to you.

17 - How precious are your thoughts about me,[a] O God.
    They cannot be numbered!18 

I can’t even count them;

    they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up,

    you are still with me!

http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/faith/essentials/growing-in-your-faith/god-has-not-forgotten-you-a-31-day-devotional#.UxPC7PRDsRK