It states (Koheles 3:15) נרדף את יבקש אלוקים, "Hashem seeks the pursued." Chazal (Vayikra Rabba 27:5) say, "Even when a tzaddik pursues a rasha." Even then, Hashem cares for the נרדף, the pursued.
It states in this week's parashah (33:2) את רחל ואת אחרנים וילדיה לאה ואת ראשנה ילדיהן ואת השפחות אחרנים יוסף ואת, "[Yaakov] placed the maidservants and their children first and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Yoseph last." Rashi explains that אחרון אחרון חביב, that those who were more beloved, were placed last. This was a situation of life and death, r'l. Eisav wanted to attack them, and those at the head of the line were probably at greater risk of harm.
The Shinover Rav zt'l says that Yaakov protected them all equally. The maidservants, and even Leah, were like a נרדף because they felt less loved than Rochel. נרדף את יבקש אלוקים, "Hashem seeks the pursued." Hashem gives special protection to those who feel heartbroken. Therefore, placing Rachel and her children at the end of the line wasn't giving them more protection than the others. They were all equally protected.
The Tzemech Tzedek of Vizhnitz zt'l (Likutim p.533) discusses the pasuk את יבקש אלוקים נרדף, "Hashem seeks the pursued." He explains that יבקש doesn't only mean "seeks". Another translation of יבקש is בקשה, request. He explains הנרדף את יבקש אלוקים that Hashem asks a request from the nirdaf, from the person who is pursued. Hashem requests that he shouldn't be sad because when a person is sad, Hashem is sad.
We quote: "יבקש is from the word בקשה, request. [It is like] Hakadosh Baruch Hu is requesting of the נרדף (the person being pursued] that he shouldn’t have tzaar [that he should somehow find it in his heart to be happy even when he is being pursued]. This is because [when people chase after someone to harm him] they are also chasing after Hakadosh Baruch Hu, keviyachol, because when a person has tzaar... the Shechinah says 'My head hurts' (see Chagigah 15:). [Hashem has tzaar together with us.] Therefore, [Hashem pleads to the nirdaf] accept it with love." Hakadosh Baruch Hu requests from the נרדף that he should try to overcome his distress because when the nirdaf has tzaar, Hashem has tzaar together with him. We repeat this to show the extent of how much Hashem partakes with the tzaar of a Yid who is suffering, r'l. Hashem is with him to support him, to help him.
The Gemara (Shabbos 12:) states, "The Shechinah is above the head of the ill." The Maharal (Gur Aryeh, Vayechi, שהשכינה ה"ד) writes that this isn't only regarding an ill person. Whoever feels weak and his heart is broken, Hakadosh Baruch Hu is with him. He explains that it states אשכון רוח ושפל דכא את, Hashem dwells with the humble and oppressed. Therefore, whoever has a broken heart, the Shechinah is with him.
Tanya (ch.26) writes, "Hashem is endlessly closer, without a limit [to the person who has yesurim]..." He explains that this thought, that he is close to Hashem, should help a person be happy when he has yesurim.
