The Heart of God

There are so many people hurting all over the world every day.  This weekend, many of those people were part of our circle and so our hearts are heavy with sharing their burdens of grief, pain and loss.
As I entered into prayer for these friends, I found myself asking God,
 "How do You bear all of the pain?  How do You see and feel all of the ones you love anguishing? Your heart must break even as You know the good to which that anguish will lead."

This led me to consider the heart of God. We are made in His image and seeing and knowing Jesus is seeing and knowing God. (John 14:9)
Jesus weeps with Martha and Mary at the death of Lazarus. (John 11:35)
Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. (Luke 19:41)

God cries.
God cries, too.

"Change my heart O God.  Make it ever true.  Change my heart O God.  May I be like You."

To be compassionate, to share in the pain of those we love and feel the same ache that they feel...this is to be like God.  That means God is hurting with your hurt.  God is crying with you as you cry.

I know the pain I feel in my soul when my children are hurting, even when I know that the current hurt will lead them to a greater joy...

...even when I am the one who is allowing them to experience that hurt...

God is good.  God is always good.  Everything that happens to those who love Him is good...even when it doesn't feel that way.  And in the midst of that pain, in the midst of the struggle and the anguish, trust that He, the God of the universe, is crying with you.

Imagine all the hurt of all the world bearing down on a heart of compassion.  What would that be like?

Lead me to the cross...
Francesca Battistelli sings this song...

Savior I come
Quiet my soul
Remember
Redemption's hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost
Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross
You were as I
Tempted and tried
Human
The word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen
Everything I once I held dear
I count it all as loss
To your heart
To your heart
Lead me to your heart
Lead me to your heart

For today...rest in the TRUTH that God is good and He is holding you right now, crying when you cry, laughing while you laugh and only a heartbeat away.