Does God Care About Me?

When God seems far away

Someone once remarked, “Behind every atheist is a person who has been hurt by circumstances they have attributed to God.” Often it’s personal, or sometimes they just look around at a hurting world and are crushed by what they see, blaming it on God.

For me, it wasn’t as drastic as denying His existence, but it was a change in my perception of Him. When my brother was killed in a car accident, as I describe in God in the ICU, suddenly God seemed distant and uncaring.

So, it’s sometimes not a case of “Does He exist?” but of “Does He care?”, but it produces the same result, for if He doesn’t care, we might as well live as if He doesn’t exist.

So, let’s ask the questions:

1. Does God Care for the World?

Well, He so loved the world that He gave us His only Son (John 3:16). Jesus left the throne of heaven to identify with us and then to die a painful death for us, representing us before the Father and taking the punishment for all the sin of mankind. That’s radical love.

So He loves mankind, but is it personal?

2. Does God Care for me personally?

Does He? Is He personally involved in my life in such a way that it makes a difference?

Counsellors often quote things like, “Love is a decision.”or “Love is not a feeling, it’s an act of the will.” but for me it’s more complicated than that.

I know my wife loves me dearly and sacrifices a lot for me, preferring me to herself to the extent that it is embarrassing at times. Yet, there is so much emotion that goes with it. It wouldn’t be the same if she just did it because she knew it was the right thing to do (although sometimes, I agree we have to do that). She’s prompted by a deep feeling for me.

And there’s emotion in God’s loving us, too. The Bible tells us that He is delighted with us (Zeph. 3:16).

I like to think of the deep joy I get looking at my little grandson, even when he’s naughty, and picture God having the same feelings for me. And for you.

So, although you weren’t there when He died on the Cross, He’s delighted that you can now come into the presence of a holy God because of what He did. So, He actually did do it for you because He has such strong feelings of love for you.

3. He might love me, but does God truly know me? And if He did, would He still love me?

For many years I couldn’t believe that the hugely powerful God who created a billion galaxies could really know little me. Then I realised I was making God, not bigger, but smaller by denying He could be bothered to know me.

A God who commands the courses of galaxies and yet knows every sparrow that falls, and numbers the hairs on my head is surely greater than one who only is concerned with the major events.

“Oh Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You percieve my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely.(Psalm 139:1-4)

How awesome is that? The Bible says before a word is on my tongue, He knows it completely. While He numbers the stars, He’s looking into my head and knowing my thoughts. And in spite of some of those thoughts (which I’d hate anyone to see), He loves me.

Be assured:

• God cares deeply for you.

• That love is available to anyone who will accept it.

• He loves you in spite of knowing all your bad points as well as your good.