Does God ever feel overwhelmed by pain, sadness, sorrow, etc?

The Bible uses such phrases as "feeling regret" and "feeling hurt at heart" and other similar thoughts - Genesis 6:6, Psalm 78:41, Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30.

And although these may be felt very deep on his part, I don't think it falls in the "overwhelmed" category. That would imply that he was out of control, could not handle the situation, did not have a solution, or could not understand.

And that is not the case. He is patient, long-suffering, understanding, and having made us with the emotions we have and display, he has limited what man can do to each other without his stepping in.

Ecclesiastes 8:9 says that "man has dominated man to his own injury". And we surely see that on a daily basis.

If you read 2nd Timothy 3:1-5, it describes what you are talking about observing out of many of mankind - lacking natural affection for family, disloyal, haughty, unthankful, fierce, without self-control, without love of goodness.

Jehovah is well aware of how man has used such atrocities on other men. He is not without a solution, and he is not without a timetable to rectify all of what has taken place.

There are scriptures in the Bible which explain that the blessings that Jehovah God will give mankind in the future right here on earth will be so extraordinary that all memories of the bad that has taken place will become a distant memory, and only thought of in a matter of fact manner with no heartache attached to it IF it is remembered at all.

After a million years of living a perfect life in a paradise, things which cause us such heartache will be long-forgotten. They will really no longer be a meaningful part of our life or memories.

Because Jehovah knows that is what is available for all mankind by seeking his favor, he can look upon man's wickedness in a different manner than we can. He is looking at a much larger picture and a much longer future than what we can handle at the moment.

So he tolerates this till the proper time for him to step in, when it will do the most good for the most of mankind as possible.

And of course, his counting of time is different than ours. What seems to take years, even centuries, is very short to him.

A thousand years of our time is like a day of his time - 2nd Peter 3:8.

Interesting thought experiment. I am also an atheist but I can't help answering, please forgive. So here's my speculation if such a being existed -

I would think that if an entity were acutely aware of every single incident of suffering humans experience at the hands of one another it would enough to cause said entity to cease to have any clarity of thought. If this entity cared about humans they would be so overwrought with sadness I don't see how they could even function. And God is supposed to care about humans.

The only way to reason such as being as God would be able to survive such pain would be to think that possibly God knows that there is no way to stop these acts. That one incident can be stopped but stopping one might lead to something just as bad or worse, or that humans in general will be humans and it's no use to do anything but let them be. Though I could argue my way out of that one. But it's kind of like when you see a mother screaming at their kid in a store. You want to say something but you fear that if you do, the parent will just be embarrassed and beat the kid when they get them home and have privacy.

The other possibility is that God would feel this pain but it would be equalized (or maybe neutralized is a better word) by the good things that humans do. Perhaps there are times when the sadness is overwhelming but since God would also be acutely aware of all the selfless deeds and joy that occurs in the world those times of despair would be interrupted by feelings of great pride in humanity and maybe it's all even in the end. Kind like how our own lives often work out.

The Holy Spirit does indeed experience grieving over such things. It is not "overwhelming" or "too much" for God though, and He is never alone. He is surrounded by a heavenly host at all times. God has already appointed a time in the not so distant future, where all things will be reconciled and the evil of the earth will be destroyed forever. If anything, I believe God looks forward to each day of His unfolding plan and looks to the day when His plan is complete.

Hang on a tic, and I'll ask Him

*meh, He didn't say anything, so I try to use my own inadequate reassurances.

I don't think that the human heart is meant to bear the horror of all the injustices and deaths in the world right now, and if it does,it is only because the grace from God allows it not to break under that titanic pressure.

and yes, I do remember reading once, that as much as we may feel and weep inconsolably for something such as this, God weeps more, since He has more understanding of each person's situation.

This can't help but bring me to the TaNaKh.

As God says he is a jealous god. Maybe out being made in his image, was not a physical image, or even that of soul. But of emotion.

As the God of Abraham seems to share every emotion we have.

Genesis 6:5-7.

5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

i don't know bout overwhelmed but i know He is very sad, and heart broken. there has been a couple times He used me for intercessory. (if you know what i mean) but anyhow i had such a strong burden in my heart that all i did was moaned and cried. i couldn't speak. i don't know who i was praying for, i just felt this strong urge to get on my knees and go before God. i might had said a couple sentences but after that no other words came out my mouth. this happened in 2007 so i don't remember everything, i only remember what i just typed.

Of course he does. Mary says: "People must amend their lives, ask pardon for their sins, and not offend our Lord any more for he is already too greatly offended. Also, God's patience is nearly exhausted. Mankind has had 2,000 years to mend its ways ,but nothing has happened. It is actually worse. Jesus told Sr. Faustina: "My heart is pierced and irritated, by the excessive number of sins being committed".

Again, its a question of "which God are you talking about"? For example, if your referring to the New Testament version of him, then I suppose it would only stand to reason that all the tragedy and horror that he allowed to happen would also get to him on some level. However, if your talking about Allah, then we are talking about a God who totally gets off on it, kinda like the evil emperor from star wars.

God is all-loving. Christ feels our pain. Yet somehow, feeling the pain and sorrow of the millions of children that die in Africa every year, the sorrow of their mothers, fathers - not a problem.

Fasinating thought and I've never thought of this!