“If I falter, Lord, who cares?” We have seen that the Lord Jesus does, and His people, our brethren, do. The enemies of the believer do too but only in ways that are diametrically opposed to the spirit of Christ and true affection for the good of His own.
What if, knowing all this, we still feel like no one cares? What if we feel like circumstances in our lives have gone so awry that it seems like even the Lord Jesus doesn’t care about us? What if everywhere we turn, relationships with others we thought were our friends are so messed up that we can’t see anything that feels like care from them for us?
There are many aspects to these questions that would be impossible to cover adequately in one short pamphlet. Let’s look at a few thoughts that should help us get to the bottom of these feelings.
Believe God
First of all, do we believe God and His Word? “God, that cannot lie” (Titus 1:22In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2)). “It was impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:1818That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrews 6:18)). “The truth is in Jesus” (Eph. 4:2121If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (Ephesians 4:21); also John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). “The Spirit is truth” (1 John 5:66When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? (John 5:6); also John 14:17; 15:26; 16:1317Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:17)
26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13)). “Thy word is truth” ( John 17:1717Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)). There is no other stable, sure, absolute foundation on which to anchor our souls. We must get back to this solid rock and rest with complete confidence in what God has told us in His Word about His love and His care — for us, not just for everyone else. “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:44God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4)).
Read His Word
Let’s make sure that we’re in the habit of daily reading His Word. And let’s read it each time with the fresh attitude of desiring to learn something more about the heart of our God and our Father — to learn more about Him. After all, this is where we’re going to get to know Him as He truly is. Others may present a distorted or improper picture, through their lives or their teachings, of who God is or what He is like, but He has given us a beautiful, consistent and complete revelation of Himself — His person, His character, His heart and His ways — in His Word. It is the delight of the Holy Spirit, who indwells each of us, to reveal these treasures to us ( John 16:13-1513Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:13‑15)).
Self-Judgment
Besides giving us the opportunity to get to know the heart of our Father, the Word of God also faithfully opens our own hearts to us for self-judgment. “The word of God is living and operative, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and penetrating to the division of soul and spirit, both of joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:1212For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) JND).
If we feel like no one cares for us or about us, sometimes one character or another of the flesh is active in our hearts to produce such feelings. Pride and an independent spirit keep us from being willing to receive the care that others try to display towards us. Jealousy blinds our eyes from seeing the care shown to us when we are envious of others receiving that same care. Bitterness over past hurts makes us misjudge and not appreciate the present kindness and care of our brethren.
These are natural weeds of the human heart, but they are all the works of the flesh, not the Spirit. The only hope for blessing and victory in our lives is to identify each one in God’s presence for what it truly is, judge it before Him to be the work of the flesh, confess it to Him as sin, and continually pray for grace to be overcomers in these areas of our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit and the new life that we have been given.
In conclusion, let’s always remember that the One who gave everything — who gave Himself — for our eternal blessing cares with infinite love about every detail of our lives now too. If there are those that He has placed in His body who have real care for our souls and how we get on, how much greater is His perfect, never faltering, genuine care and affection for us. May the words of this hymn (Little Flock Hymnbook, #243) express the true desire and prayer of our hearts each day:
O Lord! we would delight in Thee,
And on Thy care depend;
To Thee in every trouble flee,
Our safe, unfailing Friend.
When human cisterns all are dried,
Thy fullness is the same;
May we with this be satisfied,
And glory in Thy name.
No good in creatures can be found;
All, all is found in Thee;
We must have all things and abound,
Through Thy sufficiency.
Thou that hast made our heaven secure
Wilt here all good provide;
While Christ is rich, can we be poor?
Christ who for us has died!
O Lord! we cast each care on Thee,
And triumph and adore;
Oh that our great concern may be
To love and praise Thee more.