God, Don’t You Care?

This post was written to link with Five Minute Friday: write for five minutes on a one-word prompt. The prompt today is “care.”

The wind was fierce and the waves ferocious as the disciples battled their way through the storm. Despite their best efforts, the storm was relentless, and it reached the point where even seasoned fishermen Peter, Andrew, James and John were certain they were going to drown.

Only one person seemed unconcerned – Jesus, who lay sleeping, seemingly oblivious to all that was going on around him.

Finally, in their fear, the disciples shook Jesus awake and asked him a question: “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” (Mark 4:38)

Don’t you care? Isn’t it a question we may be tempted to ask as we face our own storms?

If God cares, why does the storm continue? Why does he let it get so hard? Why doesn’t he do something?

We don’t always know the answers to these questions. We can’t understand why things are the way they are, but we can know that God cares.

He is “near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18), he collects our tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8), and, although we face challenges and suffering, he is victorious:

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT)

Sometimes he shows his power in stopping the storm as he did for his disciples out on the lake. Sometimes the storm continues but he gives us strength to make it through. Sometimes it seems like the storm has overwhelmed us and evil has won.

But, when our suffering continues, whatever the reason, it is not that he doesn’t care.

Although we face troubles just now, he has done all that is necessary to deal with pain and evil, and we can know that, in him, our future is secure.

 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT)