The Trouble I've Seen

I still remember a childhood TV show that featured a big purple elephant. I have no recollection of what the show was about, or what it was called. But I remember on several occasions, this elephant would lower his head, and sing in a very sorrowful voice:

“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen,

Nobody knows my sorrow.
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen,

Glory Hallelujah.”

Talk about self pity. I don’t remember what trials the pseudo elephant was enduring, but, he sure felt like he was the only one who faced such things.

Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.

Nobody knows my sorrow.

Have you ever felt that way? As though nobody here on earth could ever possibly understand your hardships and trials?

Have you ever been so hurt, so down, so depressed, that if someone were to say, “I know how you feel,” you would smack them? You would say,

“You don’t know what I’ve gotta go through, I’ve got my own thing going on, and you don’t know how hard it is, so just butt out and leave me alone.”

I’ve had times like that. Where it felt like nobody understood the trouble I’ve seen, and nobody knew my sorrow.

In our opening worship service for the year, which, was phenomenal, the pastor delivering the message said something that grabbed me and shook me by the collar. He said something to the extent of:

“You are never ever allowed to say again, ‘Nobody understands how I feel.’”

No matter how hard life has come and smacked you upside the head, no matter how much someone has hurt you, no matter how you much you feel that all of your hope has been drained, hear these words:

Jesus understands how you feel.

Let me repeat that.

Jesus understands how you feel.

As many of you know, I’m about to enter what will be both a very rewarding, and at the same time very challenging 8 weeks of my life- student teaching.

I’m not really nervous, but the amount of pressure, stress, demands, etc. it puts on a person can be taxing.

Our new program director/professor was speaking to us yesterday. She said, “You’re going to feel like you’re not getting enough rest, you’re going to be stressed, tired, overwhelmed, and feel like you’re overworked.”

And then she held up a picture. Of her new baby son.

She said “I’m right there with you- and I’m pulling for you.”

Seriously, this professor is amazing.  She knows what stress, sleepless nights, etc. can do to a person. And she wanted to let us know we’re not alone.

And when we feel that way, God does the same thing for us.

He holds up a picture of His only son, risen from the dead, and Jesus says, “I’m right there with you- I’m pulling for you.” He’s been there, He understands, and He wants to help you.

You know, I only discovered recently that the song I mentioned earlier has an alternate, original version, one that does not seem so secular. The second line is changed. The original song goes…

“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen,

Nobody knows but Jesus.”

Have you seen trouble? So has Jesus. And He wants to help you through it. So let Him. Be at peace.  Somebody knows the troubles you’ve seen. Somebody knows your sorrows.