I was wondering if you believe that God enters into our suffering as well as having already suffered for our sins? If so, do you know how He does this? Does He feel our current pain and/or anguish right along with us, or is it a type of suffering that I might have with a friend, more like compassion?
I believe the Lord understands our pain and suffering, having experienced pain that was more severe than any we’ll ever feel. Isaiah 53:3-4 says He was familiar with suffering and that He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. The Hebrew words here refer to physical suffering and pain as well as emotional distress. The pain and suffering He endured on the cross allow Him to identify with ours. That makes it more than an intellectual understanding of what we’re going through. It’s a very personal thing for Him.