Information Related to "God Does Care for You"
| Audio/Video |
Often when we're faced with a trial that seems too hard to handle, we feel abandoned. Abandoned by friends, abandoned by family, and sometimes especially abandoned by God. In these dark times our cares and worries overwhelm us with negative and even hopeless thoughts.
God is a God of hope, however. He tells us through the apostle Peter that we should go to Him in prayer and cast our cares on Him, "for He cares for [us]" (1 Peter 5:6-7 [6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
[7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
).
Caring and compassion are two of God's divine attributes that we can sometimes forget about in a trial. King David went through many difficult and tragic events in his life. He was exiled and hunted by his king, experienced the death of his best friend, and even lost his baby son. Even through all his pain he was able to understand God's love and care: "But You, O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth...You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me" (Psalm 86:15-17 [15] But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
[16] O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
[17] Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
).
David beautifully expressed our Creator's care and concern for you in another Psalm: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies" (Psalm 103:2-4 [2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
[3] Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
[4] Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
).
The loving nature of care and concern that our Heavenly Father has is also in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Gospels we read that "when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick" (Matthew 14:14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.). The apostle James later wrote that "the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (James 5:11Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.).
It can be hard to imagine that an all-powerful God would be concerned with our trouble. Maybe we feel so small that we think He can't possibly care about us. God Himself spoke through the prophet Jeremiah and assured us that, even though He is omnipotent, He truly does care. "The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: 'I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts'" (Isaiah 57:15-17 [15] For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
[16] For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
[17] For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.
, New Living Translation).
Even when we sometimes forget that God loves and cares for us, we can have faith that He never forgets us. In our limited human perspective, we can lose track of God's ultimate purpose. In His great love and mercy, He does not forget us or our future. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope'" (Jeremiah 29:11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.).
God is love (1 John 4:8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.). His love and care for you is based on His very special plan for you and all mankind. When God created mankind, He made us in His very own image (Genesis 1:26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.).
Not only does God truly care for us on a deep level, He also hears us when we cry out to Him. We don't always feel that He is listening though. Feeling like you've lost your connection to God is so very human. God knows our feelings and gave us encouragement in the Bible.
In Romans 15:4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Paul said that "whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." So the stories and accounts of people throughout the Bible are there for us. We can read about the struggles of people like David, Moses and Peter and be encouraged that God worked in their lives, just like He can work in our lives today.
When David wrote about his personal struggles, he always followed a simple but powerful path. He cried out to God in faith, trusting God to hear Him. "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed" (Psalm 61:1(To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David.) Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.). Even though David was a king, he was also just a regular person. And just like any of us, he was sometimes afraid or even lacking in faith.
Despite his fear and uncertainty, when his faith in God was restored, it always led him to the right conclusion: God hears, and God cares. "And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. For the Lord hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners" (Psalm 69:32-33 [32] The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
[33] For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
). When you're overwhelmed with fear, doubt and trouble, set your heart toward God and ask Him in prayer for His comfort and His will in your life.
Even when we take our troubles to God and try to trust in Him, it can feel like our prayers don't actually go anywhere-that we're just talking to no one. Many men and women of powerful faith have felt that way at some points in their lives.
The apostle Paul was a man who could have concluded that God doesn't listen to people. After all, he begged God to heal him of a chronic physical problem. God didn't heal him of whatever was troubling him.
Does this mean God didn't hear Paul? Let's take a look at Paul's experience and see how it can help us have faith that God does hear in times of need.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about his experience: "There was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me" (2 Corinthians 12:7-8 [7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
[8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
, New International Version).
What was this trial that tormented Paul? We don't know for sure, but comments in Paul's writings hint it may have been a problem with his eyes (Galatians 4:13-15 [13] Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
[14] And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
[15] Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
; Galatians 6:11Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.).
Whatever his trial, the implication is that Paul asked God to take the trial away. He probably did this with fasting and heartfelt prayer (2 Corinthians 11:27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.). Paul even wanted it for the right reasons-so he could continue to spread the gospel and care for the congregations God raised up.
Can you imagine how discouraged Paul was? It's not hard to imagine he could have thought that God wasn't listening. He could have easily let himself drown in despair, or even get bitter against God. But Paul had the right perspective on what was really happening. He realized that God did hear him. The answer wasn't what Paul asked for, but it was the right answer for God's purpose for Paul's life. Paul told the Corinthians that God answered: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.). In other words, God told Paul: "I know you're suffering. I hear you, and I promise to care for you. It may not be in the way you'd like right now, but I have bigger and better plans for you. This situation is just a step along the way. Trust Me."
We don't know whether God spoke directly to Paul or whether Paul gradually came to understand God's will. What is clear is that Paul came to a deeper spiritual understanding of his own suffering. Even though he was in a tough situation, it strengthened his faith and commitment.
It's easy to think that Paul's example isn't relevant to us today. After all, he was an apostle. He witnessed and performed great miracles. He was basically a "super-Christian," right? Just like David, Paul was just a human being like us. He was weak and powerless without God's help. Anything extraordinary in his life came from God-the same God who works in the lives of those who seek Him today.
Paul's experience teaches us an important lesson. Sometimes when we feel like we have unanswered prayers, God's answer for us is actually "no" or "not yet." God never intended our physical lives to last forever or be the most important thing for us. His focus is on us developing righteous character and a trusting relationship with Him that can last for eternity. He wants to resurrect us to eternal life in a glorious, immortal spirit body not subject to weakness, illness and death (1 Corinthians 15:40-44 [40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
[41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
[42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
[43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
[44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
).
In the meantime, Paul understood that God in His love will never allow us to fall into trials greater than we can endure. "But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it., NIV). Sometimes that "way out" is simply the determination to endure the trial, to "stand up under it."
©1995-2022 United Church of God, an International AssociationRelated Information:
Table of Contents that includes "God Does Care for You"
Origin of article "God Does Care for You"
Keywords: compassion God's care God's love God hears
God's love: