Why Try: Week 4 - Thursday

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8

In many false religions, the false gods of these religions are aloof. They are distant. They do not care about the people who claim to worship them. This is not the case with our God, the one true God. Scripture teaches the exact opposite. God, as our Heavenly Father, is not unmoved by our pain. Instead, He cares deeply for us. The truth that God invites us to relate to Him as our Heavenly Father and that He cares deeply for us is no small thing. We are loved and cared for by the God of the universe, and that makes all the difference.

David experienced God’s deep care for him, and he wrote about it in Psalm 56. This Psalm was written about a time David was seized by his enemies, the Philistines. His distress during this time is abundantly clear throughout this Psalm. He began this Psalm by saying, “O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long. I am constantly hounded by those who slander me” (verses 1-2). Can you sense David’s distress in this Psalm? Notice that his enemies' attacks were constant and hounding. He could not get away from them. Throughout his distress and difficulties, David resolved to turn to God. He wrote in the next verse, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You” (verse 3). In his fear and distress, David turned to God. Why? He knew God is trustworthy and would always take care of him. Even more, David knew that God cared about him. He wrote several verses later, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book” (verse 8). What a beautiful picture. Notice the word “all” throughout this verse. Not one single sorrow or tear is unaccounted for by God. He knows them all. Even more, he is described as collecting them in a bottle. Collecting is done only for things that are precious to us. If God collects our tears, we have to conclude that they are precious to Him.

The truth that you have a God who cares about you is something to marvel at. The God who is all-powerful and over everything cares deeply for you. Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, wrote about God’s care for His people in 1st Peter 5, saying, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares for you” (verse 7). What is the proper response to the truth that God cares about us? The response to the knowledge of God’s care and provision for us is to give Him all of our worries and concerns. He can handle them. Even more, he cares for us. As we heard in the weekend message, “What concerns you concerns Him.” Will you turn to Him, the one who cares deeply for you, today with every single care and worry you are carrying?

Moving Toward Action

What are you worried about today? What burdens and cares are weighing you down today? Bring those worries and cares straight to God today. Share with Him what is on your mind today, remembering that He is your Heavenly Father who cares deeply for you.

Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.

“God, as I remember Your care for me, help me…”

Going Deeper

Psalm 56:1-13