Who cares?

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Who cares? ∙

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. – 1 Peter 5:7

Hebrews 2:16-18

 16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham.

 17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.

 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing; he is able to help us when we are being tested.

“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for” (Mother Teresa).

Who has not felt at one time or another, unloved and alone? The pain of feeling unwanted and alone can be overwhelming. Some nights can be unbearable.

These are seasons of introspection where we wonder what went wrong. So often, the solitary circumstances we find ourselves in are the result of our own unwise, even foolish decisions.

The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing . . . not healing, not curing . . . that is a friend who cares (Henri Nouwen).

It is common for people to feel all alone during difficult and tragic times. It seems as though the Father is far away. We are left asking, does anyone really care and understand?

While our sense of loneliness and isolation is real and vivid to us, for every child of the King, it is in fact only an illusion. The Father never moves away from us, He is ever-present.

Hebrews 13:5-6

 5 For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

 6 So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

If this is so, why do we feel otherwise? It has a lot to do with our personal histories and the discouragement and separation, even betrayal that we have experienced. Because people have distanced themselves from us, we somehow think that the Father will do likewise. Disappointment comes as a thief to steal away our joy, tranquility, and confidence.

It is easy and quite natural to doubt our faith. It takes effort, practice, and determination to doubt our doubts and believe our beliefs.

Psalms 62:8-12

 8 O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

 9 Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air.

 10 If your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.

 11 God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you;

 12 unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.

When we read the word of God, understand it, absorb it, meditate on it, and hide it in our hearts, we create a whole new mindset and way of reacting to difficult circumstances.

Psalms 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

The truth of the word of God is the Father’s ultimate tool which He has provided for children of the King to cope with the vicissitudes of life. In difficult times, memorized, internalized truth provides the content for sure and confident self-talk. David provides a perfect illustration of this. The rich truths which he internalized as a result of his relationship with the Father provided the basis for the magnificent self-talk that is been handed down to us in the form of Psalm 23.

The Scriptures contain wonderful precious promises that sustain us through all life events (2 Peter 1:4).

Psalms 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Psalms 55:22 Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you.

REFLECT & PRAY

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. – Deuteronomy 33:27

Father, thank You that You care for me and desire that I come to You with all of my cares and concerns. Thank You that in the middle of life’s dark shadows, Biblical truth shines as perfect light to guide my thoughts, prayers, and actions.

INSIGHT

How do we know that the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ care for us? It was the eternal plan that the Lord Jesus Christ would suffer greater than we have! He experienced trials very much like our own. He is acquainted with grief. He was a man of sorrow. The Lord Jesus Christ has successfully undergone the same kind of physical, emotional, and mental difficulties, disappointments, and trials that are part of everyday life. His suffering and testing were far worse than anything we ever face.

Hebrews 2:18 He himself has gone through suffering and testing; he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Hebrews 4:15-16

 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

“Every soul is as fully known to Jesus as if he were the only one for whom the Savior died. The distress of everyone touches His heart. The cry for aid reaches His ear. He came to draw all men unto Himself. He bids them, ‘Follow Me,’ and His Spirit moves upon their hearts to draw them to come to Him. Many refuse to be drawn. Jesus knows who they are. He also knows those who gladly hear His call and are ready to come under His pastoral care. He says, ‘My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.’ He cares for each one as if there were not another on the face of the earth” (The Desire of Ages).

Television commercials for Farmers insurance end with the memorable phrase, “We know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two.” The Lord Jesus Christ chose to become truly human so that He would know experientially everything there is to know about the struggles that people have. This makes Him a perfect, sympathetic, understanding, and caring high priest that ordinary people need. He knows a thing or two because He’s seen a thing or two.

Therefore, the apostle Peter encourages us not only to share but also to release our worries and cares to Him. He longs to carry our burdens. He encourages us to take His yoke upon us and let Him teach us (1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 11:29).

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