Your Shared Affliction
Isaiah 63:9
"In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old."
"I know what you are going through." This is a statement many people make who really understand what someone is going through. There is only one way that you can know what someone is going through, and that is to go through what another is facing. Yet, even then it is not quite true, for every situation is uniquely different.
There is only One Who can truly make this statement, and that is God. He says in the verse above, "In all their affliction he was afflicted,..." In other words, He wasn't just saying that He has gone through what someone is going through, but He is saying that He is going through it with the person who is afflicted. When they feel distress come their way, He feels the same feeling of distress trying to take over. When the situation gets tight, He feels the same tightness, for He is going through it with them. God knows exactly what you are facing because He has not only gone through it before, but He is sharing your affliction with you right now.
God says in Hebrews 4:15, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." This verse should be comforting for you as you go through your trials because it shows us that God is not a novice when it comes to your problems. You can see that He has felt every heartache and faced every trial that you have or will ever face. So, when God shares our afflictions, He has the wisdom and knowledge of how to face it, for He has gone through it before.
Christian, let me encourage you that God knows what you are facing today. He should be your counselor through your tough times, for He has faced your problems before. Many people may try to help you through tough times, but only God truly knows how to help you through it, for He has faced your situation before. There is nothing in your situation that catches God by surprise. Something you face may catch you by surprise, but God knew it was going to happen.
Furthermore, God not only knows what you are going through because of past experiences, but He also knows what you are going through because He is sharing it with you. God is there to share the yoke of heartache and trials with you. You don't have to carry the burden by yourself. He is trying to share the burden so that don't have to carry it by yourself.
I challenge you today to let God help you share your affliction. When you feel that you are at your end, remember God is there to help you carry that burden. He is the only One Who can lift your burden, but you must let Him. Run to Him and tell Him your heart's feelings, for He truly knows how you feel and how to help you. If you will look closely enough, you will see that God is along side sharing your affliction with you. What a comfort to know that you are not going through it alone!