Does God really sympathize with me in my time of need?
Exodus 22:26-27“If you take your neighbor’s cloak as security for a loan, you must return it before sunset. This coat may be the only blanket your neighbor has. How can a person sleep without it? If you do not return it and your neighbor cries out to me for help, then I will hear, for I am merciful.”
Deuteronomy 10:18“He [the Lord] ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.”
Judges 2:18Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.
Psalm 9:9The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 68:3-6His name is the Lord—rejoice in his presence! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Psalm 72:12-14He [the Lord] will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.
Psalm 91:15When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
Psalm 103:13The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
Isaiah 40:1-2“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.”
Isaiah 63:9In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.
Isaiah 66:13“I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
2 Corinthians 7:6God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
There is no trouble that comes to us without the watchful eye of our heavenly Father seeing it and sympathizing with us. Just knowing he cares is often the beginning of our healing.
Matthew 9:36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 14:14Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Matthew 20:34Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
Luke 7:13When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said.
John 11:35Then Jesus wept.
Hebrews 4:15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
The life of Jesus is a story of tender compassion toward those in need. There is no temptation, hurt, or pain that comes into our lives that does not touch his sympathetic heart.
Hebrews 2:14-18It was necessary for him [Jesus] to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
Hebrews 5:2He [Jesus] is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.
Jesus became human so that he could sympathize with our every need, including our need for strength against temptation.
