Do You Feel Unseen in Your Suffering?

Read |Exodus 3: 7 - 10, CSB|

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In pain and suffering there is a persistent story that begs for our attention. It is the story in which we are the trampled protagonist whose pain goes unnoticed; suffering unseen. But, this story does not easily stand the scrutiny of Christ-centered faith. Christ-centered faith is reliance on the person of Jesus Christ. It is when we take Him at His Word, believing that He is who He says He is and has done and will do what He says He will do. It is when we rest the weight of our lives (the ups and the downs) on Him, not being moved to plant our feet on any other ground.

And this Jesus, to whom all the Scriptures testify, is all seeing and knowing. From Him nothing can be hidden, not even the thoughts of our hearts. This Jesus is the God who is moved by the reality of what He sees and knows about each of us-moved to help. He is our Savior and Defender! And so, when we find ourselves suffering, we can be confident that He sees and knows and will help.
 
In our passage for this week, we are invited to bear witness to the first of many conversations between God and Moses. God catches the attention of His desert bound creation with a fire show. As Moses leans in to make sense of the burning bush, God speaks: “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings, and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land” (Exodus 3: 7 - 8, CSB). 

At this point, the Israelites had been in an over 400 year grip of pain and suffering at the hands of Pharaoh. Generations would have passed under the heel of Egypt's ruler. Generations would have been tempted to believe the story that they were unnoticed, unseen and therefore without any hope of aid. But, God breaks His apparent silence through one conversation He has with one man, revealing that having observed their misery, heard their cries and known their sufferings, that He is coming down. He is coming down on a mission. What is the mission? It is to snatch His people from danger-that which they experienced at the hand of Pharaoh and in the land of Egypt. God is, through a yielded vessel (Moses), showing Himself awake to the realities of His people; showing Himself compassionate towards His people; showing Himself mighty to save.

Beloved, perhaps you are under the impression that your misery, crying and suffering have gone unnoticed. Perhaps, the silence of others has convinced you to stifle your cries and pretend away the reality of your suffering. But, God is speaking now. God is using these fingers to let you know that He has observed, heard and known your suffering and is coming to rescue you. In fact, He has come! Yielded vessels are found everywhere carrying the truth that you were not made to absorb anyone’s anger or pain. Yielded vessels are everywhere eager to deliver you from your Pharaoh and Egypt. Yielded vessels are everywhere inviting you to take refuge.
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If you or someone you know is suffering because of domestic and or family violence please use these resources to...

• Cry out by calling: 1. 800.799.SAFE (7233) or TTY 1.800.787.3224. 
• Prepare to leave Egypt: https://www.thehotline.org/resources/preparing-to-leave-2/

​For our sisters in Jamaica:
Kingston 
​Address: 4 Ellesmere Road, Kingston 10
Phone: (876) 929-9038
Fax: (876) 926-9418
Email: wicrisiscentre@yahoo.com and womanincjamaica@gmail.com

Montego Bay
Affiliate Address: 53 St. James Street       
Phone: (876) 952-9533-4
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Email: womanincjamaica@gmail.com

Take care of the girls entrusted to you with this resource: https://www.thehotline.org/resources/safety-planning-with-children/

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Reflect:

How does today’s sharing invite you, as a child of God, to live? (Hint: use the categories below to help you reflect).

• Spiritually: How you relate to God.
• Soul and Mind: How you think, choose, your sense of right and wrong and your feelings.
• Body: What you do with it (actions); where you take it (environment); how you treat it (give and or withhold); with whom you share it and why.