Daily Devotions
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
If my memory serves me rightly, the words to the song go this way: “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, Nobody knows my sorrow, Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, Glory hallelujah!”
There’s probably a fair amount of truth to those lines.
I say that because in the last 24 hours I have received e-mails from family, friends and readers of Lutheran Hour Ministries’ Daily Devotions. Most of those e-mails had requests for prayer — something I’m glad to do. As I look on today’s list, I find that four different families are mourning the death of a close and beloved relative. Five people are dealing with newly diagnosed cancer. There are two heart attacks, one stroke, one undiagnosed illness and, two sets of parents, who are dealing with problem pregnancies. I have listed a number of people who are out of work and looking for a job — one family which may lose their home to foreclosure, and at least three families are worried about their teenagers. There is a possible suicide and a company that might be closing.
There are more, but you get the picture.
I imagine a great many people could find themselves singing, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.”
If you are one of those folks, then I encourage you to remember the “Glory, hallelujah,” which concludes the first verse of that spiritual. Now, I don’t know your particular pain and problem, but I do know that whatever it is the devil is going to try and tell you that God doesn’t care, or that the Lord has forgotten you.
Nothing could be further from the truth. There is Someone who understands your pain and sorrow.
That Person is Jesus. He understands sadness because He experienced sadness. When He was among us, Jesus was hated, scorned, rejected, beaten and crucified. The Jesus who gave His life as the ransom price for yours has heard your prayer; He understands your problem.
More than understanding, Jesus wishes to carry that problem with you. He who has defeated the devil and death, is not rendered helpless by your hurt. That’s the point Peter was trying to make when he wrote to Jesus’ followers: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”
The Psalmist agreed when he delivered the Lord’s promise: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me (Psalm 50:15).
The song says, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.” Well, the song is wrong. Maybe it ought to be rewritten to read, “My Savior knows the trouble I’ve seen; My Savior knows my sorrow. My Jesus knows the trouble I’ve seen, and I know He’ll help me through it.”
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for saving me when I didn’t deserve it, I give thanks. For helping me through trials and temptations, sadness and sorrow, I offer my praise. In my troubles, let me come to You and not listen to the devil. In Your Name I ask it. Amen.