All of us experience seasons in our lives that are difficult. The situation is even more painful when it seems that no cares and it feels like God has abandoned us. That is what the Israelites felt when there arose a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph. The Israelites were now viewed as slave labor and the Egyptians took advantage of them,

Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. (Exodus 2:23)

What is your response when you face a difficult situation? The fledgling nation was in bondage to the cruel task masters of Egypt. If we resist those who attack us, then that may exacerbate the situation. If we are unable to overcome our oppressors then we may be filled with self-recrimination and become even more despondent. The Israelites cried out to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in their desperation because of their pain and suffering,

So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Exodus 2:24)

Adversity has a way of drawing us to God. When we’ve exhausted all of our resources then we turn to God in desperation. Are you experiencing a difficult situation? God knows what you’re going through – He is omniscient and there is nothing beyond His knowledge. God not only knows what you’re going through, but He cares about you,

God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them. (Exodus 2:25)

The phrase “took notice” implies a deep intimate knowledge of the their condition. We tend to focus on the momentary suffering, but God is concerned with the big picture. God was growing a nation in Egypt and the Exodus would be a demonstration of His power to set His people free.

You may grow despondent when you think that you’ve been forgotten. You must realize that God has a bigger plan and the hardships you’re facing are momentary compared with an eternity with God. The Apostle Paul helps us to see God’s perspective,

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Don’t lose heart. God knows, He cares and He can do something about it.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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