This post is part of the Five-Minute Friday quick write hosted by Kate Moutang. Join us each Thursday night on Twitter (#FMFParty) for fun and fellowship, then grab a pen and start writing when the prompt goes live!
Does God care for you? Sometimes, it may seem like he's too busy or he has it out for you and it's hard to believe he really cares.
Does God Care for You?
"Nobody cares about me," he said with a snarl only an angst-filled teen boy can pull off.
I said a silent prayer before I answered. "God does. God cares for you."
"Ha!" he snorted. "What has God ever done for me?"
"I can't answer that," I said, "but I can tell you it's true. And I can tell you I care for you. Mr. Ojeda cares for you. Your other teachers care for you. We all want to see you succeed. Do you believe me?"
"I guess." He looked up; his expressive brown eyes full of pain. "I guess I believe about you caring for me. You cook that nacho soup whenever I ask. And you make good cookies. Mr. Ojeda probably cares for me, too. He takes me mountain biking."
"We care, and God cares for you, too," I said one more time. "You might not believe it now, but I hope you never forget. I pray one day you'll feel the truth of it."
Sadly, all the care in the world didn't keep him at our school. I've seen him a few times in the intervening years. The grapevine reports his brushes with the law and the times he spends in jail.
The God Who Cares Demands We Care, Too
Did I care enough? Do enough? Reflect Jesus enough? Only heaven knows. I haven't always understood my commission to love like Jesus. Many times, I've failed when my own ego got in the way. My unkind actions, thoughtless words, and careless attitude don't reflect a God who cares.
If we want the world to believe God cares about them, we must care about them first. Caring about others means listening and praying before we speak. It means accepting people without judgment—even if they do things, wear things, say things we don't agree with.
The world won't feel drawn towards a God who cares if his people act like they don't give a hoot.
I pray God keeps working with me, teaching me how to care more instead of less. Even if I fail to reflect the truth, the answer is YES! 1 Peter 5:7 says,
Cast all your anxiety on him (God) because he cares for you.
NIV
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