This is for those of us who have felt like nobody cares, not even God. When you’ve been so down and discouraged, just waiting for someone to pick you up and it seems like every person passes you by intentionally. For those who have felt like all hope is lost and everyone and everything has given up on us. The pit of despair has consumed us. Faithfulness has fled us. Hope is as familiar as a Russian book. Our world has not been turned upside down...it has been shattered and the pieces are scattered, some unrecognizable.

In spite of our misconceptions, I believe that God does care. We just fail to understand Him and how He works. When you open up the Bible and read the stories, we are told of this awesome, amazing, indefinable God who simply spoke words to create our world. He is so perfect in His ways that if a human saw His face, that person would die. In Isaiah 40 we are told that He measures the waters of the seas in the palm of His hand and that He measures the heavens by His arm span. He weighs the mountains in a pair of His scales and He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

While reading the Bible it is easy to feel insignificant. After hearing about this great and awestricken God, we are mere mortal humans. Gravity restrains us and time confines us. Sadness and misery overcome us. Yet in Genesis 1 we are told that “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” But we seem so different from God. Almost the complete opposite. And we were supposed to be created in His image?

Now it seems we’re as similar to Him as apples to peanuts. And it is hard to believe that a being as great as God cares so immensely about us. It’s like saying that the President personally cares about my well-being. Yeah right. He’s never even been to Kansas (where I’m from) so how could he even care about me, whether I have a job or not or if I’m homeless. Believing that such a mighty being as God cares specifically about each of us is very hard. The only people on earth who seem to care are relatives and close friends. As with all things in my life, I often try to measure the Father’s affection toward me through my overall happiness. I wonder why all my prayers are going unanswered. Not only are my plans unsuccessful, I am a complete failure.

If you feel like He doesn’t care, join the crew. Have you read the Psalms? How frequently did David cry out to God in despair? In Psalms 22 he said, “My God why have you forsaken me?” This isn’t a statement made by a person who is feeling comforted. David was one of the most important characters in the Bible. God said that David was a man “After His (God’s) own heart.” David loved God immensely and far greater was the love God had for David. Yet there were several times when David felt alone and abandoned by God. Remember when King Saul tried to kill David with a spear? David escaped, but then Saul hunted him with an army. Is it very comforting to be chased by an evil king?

Does this mean that God doesn’t care? Absolutely not. There are several reasons. As David went through trial after trial, he learned more and more how God would provide. His faith grew and his love for God increased. There are several characters in the Bible who felt abandoned. Do you think Abraham felt forsaken by God when he was pleading with God for a son, but had to wait 25 years for Isaac to be born? How about Joseph who was sold into slavery by his own brothers only to sit in a jail cell for years? Or some of the prophets who were stoned to death by their own nation for sharing God’s truth, such as Zechariah?

Finally, how about Jesus? He had been with God since before time began. Jesus (the Word - John 1:1-4) spoke all creation into existence. He has had perfect fellowship with the Father since He was created. They ruled heaven together. Their bond was greater than the greatest duos known to man. Yet Jesus chose to leave His throne. Not only did He remove Himself from heavens royalty to be treated as an insignificant peasant, He left His continual fellowship with the Father. All this was done so that He could come to earth and hang on a cross. On that cross was the first time He was ever completely separated from His Father. Not only was Jesus separated, He was forsaken by God.

Although we feel forsaken by God, He never truly forsakes us. Silence does not imply rejection. But when God forsook Jesus, He rejected Him. He could not look at the sin His Son bore on the cross. Jesus was alone – completely. The Word tells us of His faithfulness. He won’t flood this earth again, although we deserve it. Yet His only Son He rejected and forsook just for us. Not only did God reject Him, but He crushed Jesus, Himself. (Isaiah 53:10). “He was pleased to crush Him.”

Yes, you matter. Jesus went through all this for you!! God, the Father, forsook, rejected, and crushed His only Son just for you. It was not required, nor part of His job description. It was an act of love. You know that phrase, “Actions speak louder than words”? This is the greatest example of its validity.

When you wonder whether God cares and where He is, remember Jesus and how God abandoned Him, just so that you could serve God and live eternally to worship Him. He has not forsaken you. Remember Jesus’ words: “And I am with you always, even to the end of the earth.” Matthew 28:20