SUNDAY STUDY: Does God Really Care?

By T.A. McMahon @thebereancall.org

Some believe that… and some don’t. Those who don’t believe that God cares for them usually look at their problematic circumstances as proof that God couldn’t care less about what they are going through. It’s interesting that for many the thought of God is only brought to mind when their situation is bad news. He’s at fault. He could have done something about it, but He didn’t. He obviously didn’t care enough to get involved.

For those who think that way, it’s a blame game… and rarely against themselves. When things are going well, God isn’t even considered, let alone given credit or thanks. Part of the problem is that such people know nothing about God. Their ideas about Him are mostly culled from hearsay—the opinions of others, which are typically false and too often scornful. They themselves wouldn’t stand for that treatment if it were leveled at someone they know well and truly care about.

For those who do believe that God cares for them, what makes them think so?

Two reasons come to mind:

• 1) He says so over and over again throughout the Bible, which is His direct and objective communication to humanity. In other words, what is written in the Scriptures are His words. Other than men writing His words down, they had no personal input. First Thessalonians 2:13 tells us, “…when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
• 2) They have personally experienced His involvement in their lives as He demonstrates His concern by means of His loving kindnesses and tender mercies toward them. They truly believe that God cares for them. But that belief didn’t start there. It began when they committed their lives to Jesus Christ, trusting that He was the only one who could save them from eternal separation from God. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the [reconciliation]” (Romans 5:10-11), which He did by paying the full penalty for their sins in order to satisfy God’s righteous justice. “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Thus began their born-again, personal relationship with the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father sent the Son (John 3:16; 8:18) to save humanity (Matthew 18:11), and the Son sent the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who proceeded from the Father (John 15:26).

Biblical Christianity is like no other spiritual belief system. No others involve a personal, even intimate, relationship with the God who created all things. None have a God who sacrificed Himself for the sake of His created beings. None have a God who is love personified. Those things and a great deal more of what the Scriptures declare are the basis for believing the words of Jesus in John 17:17: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Biblical Christians believe God’s Word is truth and the truth is: He cares for us.

PSALM 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler [shield], and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

PSALM 25:4-5 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

PSALM 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

PSALM 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.

PSALM 32:8-9 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

PSALM 34:22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

PSALM 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

PSALM 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.

PSALM 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

PSALM 37:39-40 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.

PSALM 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.

In the New Testament we have verse after verse of God not only declaring His love for all people, but in case after case we find Him guiding the lives of believers by His Holy Spirit, protecting them, and delivering them from all kinds of tribulations.

LUKE 1:78-79 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

JOHN 10:2-4 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

JOHN 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.

JOHN 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

ROMANS 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:…

ROMANS 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

ROMANS 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2 TIMOTHY 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

HEBREWS 13:5 Let your conversation [conduct] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1 PETER 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 PETER 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.

God indeed demonstrates His care for those who put their faith in Him and in His Word: “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me,” that is, has given me life. (Psalms 119:50)

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