God Cares for You
– Luke 4:10
The two questions we’ve looked at so far these past Sundays – “Who are you?” (Paying special attention to our pain) and “Why are you Afraid?” (Paying special attention to the way God has cared for you) – have been a real gift to me and I hope they’ve been a gift to you as well. It’s honestly been fun to do the inner work of connecting with God in my own story.
This week in particular, I’ve seen the abundant gift of God’s provision and care across my lifetime, and actually, in just the past few days. And I figured, why not share some of it with you, as a way to provide you some encouragement too!
Here’s five ways that God has cared for me in the past… five days or so, listed in reverse order of time.
5) I was witness to one of the most beautiful eulogies ever given… when a member of ARC, a resident of one of their group homes, came to the podium, head bowed… reached out his hand and clutched the podium. “He was my buddy… he loved me… I loved him…” Again and again, he cried out this refrain in various orders. His roommate of many years had just died, and he was grieving. I was moved beyond words.
4) A phone call with a friend of 20+ years… he’s making a huge change in his life and we got to talk through it, and I got to cheerlead him and his family. To witness what God’s done in him and in them, particularly in the past several years, has been a gift to my soul. When I cry, “what about them?” and I hear God respond, in the voice of Aslan through the writing of CS Lewis, “I only tell anyone their own story…” – I’m comforted to be able to see the redemptive work in other people and be reassured that even though I may not know their story, God is at work in them too!
3) My family gathering for a game night and a movie… sure, there was some frustration. But there was also repair and restoration, there was laughter and joy. And there were hugs. I need hugs. LOL. My family has been a clear example of God’s care for me. I didn’t always see it that way, especially as I was growing up, but I do now. All of my family, but especially in this family, the five of us, as we are for the next five days before Brennan returns to college.
2) Two meetings at the church… two different groups looking at the particulars of how to faithfully follow Jesus and steward these particular resources in this particular place. Sometimes, leadership can be a lonely place. But here, as long as we look up and look around, we recognize that we are surrounded by many other tremendous, caring, capable people who want the same things. None of us have to shoulder the burden alone – we’re not meant to, we can’t, and we don’t. God’s cared for me through the support of many leaders at CUPC.
1) Last night… Bridgette and I gathered with two other couples to eat and drink and laugh. And boy, did we laugh! The food was good enough, but the company of those friends filled my heart in a way that a full belly never can! Last night was just the latest example of God’s care for me through the community of friendships here at Canonsburg UP.
When I look back at these events, it’s clear that God not only cares for me in general, but he cares for me concretely. There is clear evidence. And I’m tremendously encouraged as I reflect on it.
How about you? How has God cared for you? These past five days? Or five weeks? Or five months? Or five years? Over your lifetime? I invite you to look at some of them, and in so doing, confirm that God does care for you… and be encouraged in the process!
Welcoming You to Grow in Jesus… as you recognize God’s care for you,
Pastor Don