Does God Care?

As the crowded elevator approached the first-floor lobby, Katie had never felt more alone. Her entire world had come unraveled in one catastrophic moment.

She had just left the doctor’s office with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. How could she have been prepared for such a blow? She had children to care for, a husband to love, and a crowded agenda of activ­ities. After a decade of marriage, Katie and Brad were looking forward to the next one, and several more after that. They were anticipating doing more traveling. They were planning to savor the pleasure of growing old together and spoiling their grandchildren. Cancer was nowhere in the itinerary. Where was God? How could He let the un­thinkable destroy her future?

Katie was not the only miserable person on that elevator. With trembling fingers, Justin was clutching a box with his personal possessions. He had just cleaned out his desk after being given a pink slip. Sure, everyone hits an occasional bump in the professional road. But for Justin, the timing could not have been worse. He had just made a down payment on a new house. Friends had told him to stretch financially when investing in a home, and he had taken their advice. The plan was to work some overtime and climb the corporate ladder. He had never imagined he would be fired. And he still had his college loan to pay off. Suddenly he was left with no income and a world of debt. Justin thought he did not have a prayer of finding an­other job quickly. Speaking of prayer, what about God? Was He even listening?

Standing next to Justin was Carl, deep in tortuous thought. The night before, his wife had walked into the room and found him viewing pornography on the Internet. Disgusted and disappointed, she rushed from the room. The silence in the house had been suffocating. Carl was a good father and a successful businessman, and he went to church. But the stranglehold pornography had on him when he was single did not go away when he married. He struggled with pornography throughout his marriage. When his wife had discovered the magazines and videos, he had promised, repeatedly, that he would never buy them again. But now pornography was all around him, just the press of a button away. Why was it so easy to fall into sin?

Yet another person stood in this elevator, a young woman named Becky. She and her boyfriend, David, had been dating for over two years. Two days ago, he told her he wanted out. She was devastated. They had shopped for engagement rings and talked about wedding plans. Because they were going to be married, she thought it was okay that they had gone further sexually than she intended. Hav­ing David as a boyfriend had given her such a sense of purpose and value. Now, instead of feeling important and loved, she felt empty and abandoned. Where was God and the fulfillment He had promised?

Perhaps you’ve felt like Justin or Katie, or like Carl or Becky or some­one else on that elevator full of ordinary folks heading down to life’s depths. We all reach crisis points when we can do nothing but cry out to God in pain and confusion. We have all had black moments when we have suspected, in the darkest part of our souls, that maybe He simply is not listening. Maybe He does not even care.

Just when we find ourselves moving along under the illusion that we are self-sufficient, handling life well, and standing on our own two feet, life has a way of reminding us that we are but small, helpless children. We discover there are forces too great for us to overcome alone. So we run crying to the Lord as little children, seeking comfort and answers.

But how does God feel about that? Is He cold and indifferent, re­minding us that everybody else has problems, too? Or does He take us into His arms with love and compassion?

I can assure you, there is nothing cold or indifferent about the God I have known for nearly six decades. The Bible says that He is love and that He never stops desiring an ever-closer relationship with us. My experience has shown that to be true.

Why is it that God is with us and within us, yet so many of us live our lives with little awareness of His presence? We face life’s problems without taking advantage of His wisdom. We cope with crises without calling upon the limitless strength that He has to offer us. Have you made that mistake in your own life? Why does this happen?

It certainly is not because God wants it to be so. Psalm 145:18 tells us, “The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him sincerely.” That means the Lord longs to maintain an intimate relationship with every one of us. I believe the key word in that verse is sincerely. How sincere are you in calling upon the Lord? Do you really want to have a daily dependence upon Him? Or are you simply looking for instant help from the immediate problem of the day? Do you wish to partake in a rich and full relationship with the King of all kings? Or are you concerned that He might interfere with the way you want to run your life?

Those impure motives will never cause God to stop reaching out to you, but they will make it much more difficult for you to know the fullness of His love and power. Only when we finally come to a sincere desire for Him, as the psalm indicates, will we discover what He has wanted us to have all along.

The Lord desires daily fellowship with us through the Holy Spirit, whom He sent to indwell each of us. The moment you accept God’s gift of salvation and receive Christ into your life, He enters your heart in the person of the Holy Spirit. Though you may not always be aware of Him, He takes permanent residence inside you. If you are a Chris­tian, the Spirit of Christ remains within you every moment of every day.

If you are struggling with sin, loneliness, fear, or any other problem, talk to God about it.  He cares and He is listening.  But don’t stop there.  Make your relationship with Him your daily priority.  Keep talking with Him.  Keep focusing on Him.

I know the Lord is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.                            —Psalm 16:8

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.     —Psalm 16:11

By Bill Bright

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