I remember September 11th much the same way.
Sometimes life hurts more than we think it should. We think we've seen the worst, and then we're shocked again to see that we were wrong. Last week a mother I know lost her battle with cancer. Her children are still in preschool. They will grow up without her. These wounds cut so deep, take so long to heal, and leave such ugly scars. Life can be so very painful.
We ask Why?, we mourn, we cry, we hurt from the inside out. And hopefully we seek the Healer. Jesus knows that Life is painful. We don't follow a God who is unaware of the shocking injury that living on planet earth can inflict. He knows; He understands; He feels it too.
And sometimes that's all we need to know. It helps us to remember that God feels. His heart echoes the outcry of injustice that we shout. He understands what it feels like to be shocked into greater pain when you thought you had experienced it all. He sees. He feels. And He wants to do something about it.
"Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." -Hebrews 4:14-16 (MSG)
I don't know what shocking pain you may be experiencing today. Perhaps you are one who is living through the deepest hurt of your life. Sometimes the only comfort you can hold onto is that Jesus knows how you feel. Because if He knows, He'll have the sympathy, empathy, and compassion to help you. And if anyone can help, it's Him.
