Does God see what is going on? 

Does He even care? 

Does God understand what is happening to me? My situation. What I’m struggling with.

Or is He involved with a dazzling holy throne that is a billion miles away, mingling with angels and some very weird creatures, doing “God things” with people far more worthy than me?

He said He would never leave me nor forsake me. But where is He? Why don’t I feel Him or see any signs that He is the least bit interested in what I am going through?

Is God like my dad: not there for me? An absentee parent … Not interested in my life because he is working so much. Present on holidays, but far away when I need him in the middle of the week.

Have you ever felt that way? Me too.

And so did David, a man after God’s own heart, who went from a palace to a dank cave, wondering what the heck was happening. David knew a secret about God that sustained him through the hard chapters of his life:

God Stoops to Look at Us.

He wrote:

“The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man.” Psalm 33:13

There is hardly a more moving picture of God than when Scripture describes Him as bending down from His throne to notice us. The image is simple, yet profound: the Almighty, high and lifted up, stoops to look upon the needs, the wounds, and the cries of His creation.

When we are in the middle of a test, we somehow feel as though God is unaware of our existence. However, the truth of the matter is that He is watching with great interest and rooting for us. He sees. He knows. He understands. Nothing surprises God or catches Him off guard.

Sometimes, His hand is on the bike as we wobble to keep us from falling. The training wheels are off. At other times, He removes His hand because He knows, “We have this.” A child gets scared when they see the hand of their father removed temporarily. It’s their safety net. But if we keep pedaling, we will ride. We will learn balance and build strength. He will watch our struggle with immense joy. He is aware of the frustration we feel and our desire to give up. But He also knows we will persevere, master the skill, learn the lesson, and speed off into our destiny with a smile of accomplishment on our faces.

We see this tenderness when He visited Sodom and Gomorrah, not rushing to judgment but first making a personal visitation. We see it in the Lord, who bends His ear from the highest heavens and presses it close to the lips of a dying sinner, whispering for mercy. (like my dad) We see it in the God who counts the very hairs of our head, charts our path, numbers our days, and orders our steps with care.

This truth becomes even more precious when we realize that His attention is not limited to our earthly needs but extends to our deepest spiritual concerns. Though the distance between finite humanity and the infinite Creator seems immeasurable, God bridges it. He has chosen to link Himself to us in love.

Every tear you shed is noticed. Our tears are so precious to Him that He saves them. 

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8

Every sigh of your heart is heard. As Psalm 103:13 says, 

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.” 

Your whisper can reach the throne room. Your prayer can touch His heart. Your faith can move His mighty hand.

God does not sit aloof, detached from your struggles. He is not a distant ruler keeping watch from far away. He is the Father who stoops. He stoops to see, stoops to hear, stoops to comfort, and even stoops to save.

The ultimate picture of this stooping love is in Jesus. The eternal Son of God left heaven’s glory and came down, taking on human flesh. He not only looked upon us from a distance, but He walked among us, touched people with leprosy, wept at the grave, bore our sins, and lifted us up by stooping under the weight of the cross.

So, remember this: no matter how insignificant you feel, no matter how hidden your pain may seem, you are seen. You are known. You are loved. You are precious in His sight. You may feel lonely. But you are never alone.

Yes, He hears your prayers. 

“He who made the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?” Psalm 94:9

The eyes of the Lord run throughout the whole earth, not to condemn, but to show Himself strong for those who trust in Him. The Maker of galaxies bends low enough to catch your tears. He is aware of every sparrow that falls to the ground. He cares. He feels the breath of your sighs. And He will make all things new soon.

“He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the LORD’s, and he has set the world in order.” 1 Samuel 2:8

That is the wonder of grace: the God who stoops is the God who lifts us up.

Thanks for reading this. I hope it strengthens and encourages you to “keep on keepin’ on.”

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May the Lord bless and keep you! -Issachar