I Pet. 5:7 ... "Casting all your anxiety (care) on Him (God), because He cares for you."
One of the most miserable feelings a person can experience is loneliness; and when it is combined with the perception that no one cares about you, the misery is increased almost beyond endurance. To think that no one cares about you robs life of much of its meaning, joy, and warmth. It deprives you of the motivation to try to accomplish things worthwhile; it obscures goals and plans for the future, and leaves life an empty shell.
More people than you might think have this sinking feeling that no one cares about them. They get sick, and no one comes to see them. They win some small victory in life, and no one praises them or rejoices with them over it. They experience a time of sorrow, and no one comes to help them bear it. They must face the ups and downs of life all alone, receiving few words of encouragement, advice, or hope.
Perhaps one reason behind much of this mututal indifference is that we live in an age when hurry and crowds are major factors in social life. To phrase it metaphorically, we have "so many irons in the fire," that we find little excess time to show our neighbor we are aware of his existence and are at least slightly concerned about what is happening in his life. And there are so many more people crowded about us than there used to be that we feel, because we cannot divide our available time among all of them, we should not share it with anyone.
Although people for whatever reason may not show concern and interest in one another, there is One who always does care ... Jesus Christ. He always stands ready to show anyone all of the love, consideration, sympathy, and time that the person needs. Jesus knows your sorrow. grief, and broken heart, and is always ready and willing to share it. How moving is His offer in Mat. 11:28, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Though His Spirit fills the vast and trackless universe, He yet feels the keenest emotions of the most dejected and neglected soul of man. God's personal knowledge of the individual is exhibited in Jesus' statement in Mat. 10:29-31, "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."
It is a very comforting thought to know that God is watching over our lives both day and night, that He maintains a real, warm, and active interest in us, and that He is always ready to help us. In fact, He wants very much to share our lives with us. When we are happy, He wants to share that happiness and enrich it to make us even happier. And when we are sad, He wants to share that sadness to lighten its weight so we won't stagger or collapse beneath it. The Lord's words to his distressed apostle surely apply to every other disciple as well: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness," (II Cor. 12:9 NIV). It has been said that, "Man's extremity is God's opportunity." When thick clouds of adversity have enshrouded your life, cut you off from other people, and turned your outlook gray, you have reached an extremity. But that is God's opportunity to act in your life with His amazing grace to lift you up in a way that prosperity can never achieve.
In spite of the fact that Jesus does care, all too often He never is given the opportunity because we neglect or refuse to admit Him into our lives and integrate Him into our daily experiences. If we fail to let Him share our lives with us, He will not be present to comfort, guide, strengthen, and support us. He cares for us, but we must first "cast our care upon Him" in order to be recipients of the help which He is so ready and able to bestow.
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