He Knows

I like to listen to music. A lot. In fact, I'd wake up to it and listen to it until I go to sleep if I could. Obviously, there is a need for silence too, but that is another blog post for another day.

And, since I listen to so much music, I find it hard to pick one song as my all-time-favorite. I think favorites change, especially with music, as different songs speak to us in different ways during different seasons.

Not long ago, Christian artist Jeremy Camp released a single "He Knows." You might have heard it on the radio. If not, the link is below. I encourage you to listen to the lyrics.

The first time I heard the song, I liked it. Good words, good beat, everything.

But over a few months, things in my life started changing. I graduated (for one) and I was hurt by someone I thought was my friend. I've been stressed and discouraged fairly often recently, and I needed something to take comfort in.

I bought the album with "He Knows" on it and listened to it almost obsessively (which is a habit of mine when I get new CDs) about the same time. I like all the songs, but "He Knows" especially touched me.

What I love about "He Knows" is the message: No matter how bad things are for you, He knows "every hurt and every sting; He has walked the suffering." He knows.

I've heard plenty of songs too that essentially say, "What you're going through is bad, but God's got it under control. Have faith."

And sure, that's great to hear.

But when I'm going through these tough times, times when I'm going through storms, I don't really want to hear, "It'll be okay." And besides, I always feel like they are talking about people going through cancer or death or something drastic. They don't seem to apply to friend drama. I mean, what is drama compared to the "big" things, like a six-year-old dying from cancer or poverty among refugee camps or human trafficking?

When I listen to "He Knows," however, I don't hear, "It'll work out alright." It declares that in the pain that I am going through, I am not alone. Jesus has hurt the same way. He sees the wounds in my heart and can show me scars on His own that match.  He knows what I'm going through, knows how it feels. Sure, He'll make all things work together for good; but right now, I need someone who can truly empathize, someone who has walked my suffering.

I draw great comfort from the words, and I cling to its message.  HE KNOWS. Right here, right now, with me in my pain; HE KNOWS. 

And no matter what you're going through, no matter how you are hurting, remember that Jesus has endured it all. Even if you don't have the strength to pray. Even if your fight has been so hard and you've fallen so low. He has walked YOUR suffering.  Let your burdens come undone; lift your eyes up to the one who knows. HE KNOWS.