No Bible hero was ever exempt from grief. King David wrote, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” (Psalm 34:19). From the midst of his torment, Job lamented man’s sad existence, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).

The Bible’s heroes were made great by their obedience to God and by their trust in Him. All of them endured much grief in their lives of faith. Yet they believed God always considered them, even in their most sorrowful moments.

No matter how righteously we live, many griefs and sorrows will come. Paul urged his brethren to continue in the faith saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

If God allows, we will have a long life; perhaps we will make 80 or more years. We are guaranteed throughout that lifetime to experience much trouble. Life can wear us down, and we can feel despair. Sometimes we will wonder if God knows what we are going through.

Though often afflicted with grief, the Bible’s heroes believed God saw their struggles. We can have such a relationship with God like this. God thinks on those who love Him with all of their heart, soul and mind. If you are among these, He is thinking of you right now.

David knew the sorrows of life, for the Bible records he had many. Yet, he realized God’s watchful, tender care. In the beautiful Psalm 103, David’s words offer reassurance in times of trouble. “He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14-18).

How much is God aware of His people? How soon does He know their needs? “O Lord, You have searched me and known me,” David also wrote. “You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether” (Psalm 139:1-4).

Even though we cannot understand how He does it, God is deeply involved in the lives of His people. We can be absolutely sure that He knows everything about us. He watches over us and keeps us in His thoughts. David did not know how God did this; he realized this was beyond his understanding. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain it” (Psalm 139:6).

Nevertheless, David concluded: “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand” (Psalm 139:17-18). Job also came to understand that God is aware of all things. Realizing how truly great God is, he said, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You” (Job 42:2).

Paul endured epic troubles for the sake of the gospel. In spite of it all he wrote to the Romans, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Peter the apostle, a man who surely knew the sorrows of life, tells us to cast “all our care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). If you trust God in this way, you will see the evidence of His masterful care in your life. A prayerful thought will find an answer. A scripture verse so fitting for the moment will come to your mind. Circumstance in your life will fall into place in such a way that you know God was involved. You will look back over the course of your days and see the evidence of God’s work.

The Bible’s heroes were made great by their obedience to God and by their trust in Him. All of them endured much grief in their lives of faith. Yet they believed God always considered them, even in their most sorrowful moments. Such reassurance of God’s faithful care for His people should likewise characterize your relationship with God.

Though God is very high above us now, righteous in every aspect of His character, He looks tenderly on us. “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit’” (Isaiah 57:15).

Trust Him to show you the evidence of His involvement in your life. God knows that a life of faith and obedience toward Him is a constant struggle. If you are His, He looks after you in ways that are far above our understanding. Though such knowledge is too high for us, we can believe He knows our every need.

Christ tells us, “In the world you will have tribulation,” and He assures us, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (John 16:33, Matthew 28:20). We can be sure the Lord sees our sorrows; and know that we are in His thoughts.