THE WORD: Does God really care for us?

PHOTO CAPTION: “The Return of the Prodigal Son” by Lionello Spada (circa 1600) is a painting in the collection of the Louvre Museum, Paris. (Public Domain)

“I am poor and needy — yet the Lord thinks upon me!” Psalm 40:17 

Did God really care for him? And does God care for us, and think upon us — when we are poor and needy? Does God really care for us, as individuals? Does He give personal thought to any of us — to you, to me — according to our condition? Does pain or trouble in us — cause pity in His heart? Does God care? Does He see the individual in the crowd? When you are passing through some great trouble, enduring pain or adversity — does God know it, and does He care? 

A daughter had a bitter sorrow, a sore disappointment. The mother knew just what her daughter was passing through. Her love for her child, entered into and shared all the child’s experiences. The mother cared. Is there ever anything like this in the heart of God — as He looks upon His children and knows that they are suffering? 

When we turn to the Bible, we find on every page the revelation — that God does care — and has personal interest in His people. 

Christ assured His disciples, that the very hairs of their heads are all numbered; meaning that God personally cares for all the minutest affairs of our lives — He cares for us as individuals. His love is as personal and individual, as the love of a mother for each one of her children. 

Paul took the love of Christ to himself — as if he were the only one Christ loved. “He loved me — and gave Himself up for me!” God’s love is personal. He cares for us — for me.  

Whatever your need, your trial, your perplexity, your struggle may be — you may be sure that God knows and cares — and that when you come to Him with it, He will take time amid all His infinite affairs, to help you — as if He had nothing else in all the world to do. 

God cares! His love for each one of His children is so deep, so personal, so tender — that He has compassion on our every pain, every distress, every struggle. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:13. God is our Father, and His care is gentler than a human father’s — as His love exceeds human love. 

Much human care has no power to help — but when God cares — He helps omnipotently. When human friendship can give no relief — then God will come. When no one in all the world cares — then God cares. “Cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares about you!” 1 Peter 5:7 

J.R. Miller was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain.