Saturday, our county mourned the senseless killing of one of our police officers. On Sunday, I attended a memorial service of a friend who died suddenly from an illness and on the way home received news of a tragic car accident killing a twenty year old of an acquaintance and son of a local business owner on his way home from church and injuring his brother. Add to that the news of horrible tragedies around the world of senseless, hate-filled terror attacks. This is just one weekend in my small sphere of planet earth!
It makes me stop and think about the brevity and uncertainty of life. None of us are immune from hardships, trials, sickness, injury, death, grief, sadness, despair, injustice, depression, or tragedy. In fact, we are guaranteed to suffer because of them. We do not have the promise of tomorrow or even the next minute but we do have the promise of eternity with Jesus if we have prepared ourselves and serve him as Lord of our lives. Christians know about the love and compassion of a Heavenly Father who cares.
I reflected on the beloved old hymn, “Does Jesus Care?” penned by Frank E. Graeff in 1901. Hymntime.com records….”Graeff went through some very difficult trials. The period before writing this song was one of great despondency, doubt and physical pain. When he turned to God’s Word, I Peter 5:7 gave wonderful comfort: “He cares for you.” After meditating on that truth, Graeff wrote these lyrics with the resounding affirmation in the chorus, ‘O yes, He cares.'”
There is something about difficult times that makes us acutely aware of an ache in our hearts for God. Somehow, deep in our spirits we know that God is the only answer and we reach out for His help, protect and care. God cares. He cares for me and He cares for you.
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song, As the burdens press,
And the cares distress, And the way grows weary and long?Refrain: O yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary,
The long night dreary,
I know my Savior cares.Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear? As the daylight fades Into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong; When for my deep grief
There is no relief, Though my tears flow all the night long?Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me, And my sad heart aches
Till it nearly breaks, Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
