- Myths Some Christians Believe -
God Doesn’t Really Care
Introduction
We are in a series called Myths Some Christians Believe. The myths we have covered so far include: God Won’t Give Me More Than I Can Handle, God Just Wants Me to Be Happy, I Could Never Forgive that Person, and Follow Your Heart.
The myth we want to talk about today: “God Really Doesn’t Care”. This is a sensitive topic because most of the time when we think this way we are going through a difficult trial. In the hurts and pains of life, we can wonder where God is. Many Bible characters experienced this feeling.
Psalm 42:9a I say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
John 11:21 Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
Jon Moffitt: There’s nothing preventing God from healing this world. There’s nothing preventing God from removing all pain and sorrow, and yet he doesn’t. That’s a struggle. We all feel that tension.
One article I read offered three reasons why people wonder if God cares (Gould):
-Things don’t go my way - life is hard in big ways and in small ways. If God cared for me, he would cut me some slack.
-God is often silent and hidden from me. Our lives are full of affliction, we cry out to God for help—and in response—silence. In response—absence.
-God allows pain and suffering in my life.
But the idea that God does’t really care is a myth. And to get to the truth of that, we begin by thinking about who God is.
1. God is Worthy of Our Trust
God Is Omnipotent (All-Powerful)
There is nothing beyond the power of God. No limit to His ability.
Matthew 19:26 …Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable.
God is Omnipresent (All-Present)
Psalm 139:7-10 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I lift up the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
God Is Omnibenevolent (All-Loving)
Pruitt: “He loves perfectly and is completely full of love. His love never runs out and never lessens. He can fully and perfectly love 7.5 billion people all at the same time and never lack one ounce of love for someone else.”
1 John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
God Is Omniscient (All-Knowing)
1 John 3:20b God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
Because of who God is, we can put our trust in Him, even in the darkest of days. Because of who God is, we can experience Blessed Assurance - which is what we need in the valley experiences.
2. God’s Gifts of Assurance that He Cares (Galatians 4:4-7)
Freedom From Sin - something we cannot give ourselves. Without God’s intervention we were slaves to sin. Jesus paid the price to set us free. God’s amazing grace is that He remembered us in our time of greatest need and answered that need with Jesus.
Family with a New Father - God gave you a family to come home to - He adopted you and made you his own - an adopted child forever.
Future - Jesus is Coming Again. When Jesus Comes Again, it will be different (Pruitt).
The first time Jesus came to earth, He came as a baby. When He comes back, He will come as a full-grown king.
The first time Jesus came to earth, He came in weakness and meekness. When He comes back, He will come in power and glory.
The first time Jesus came to earth, He came as a sacrificial lamb. When He comes back, He will be a roaring lion.
The first time Jesus came to earth, He suffered momentarily on the cross. When He comes back, He will make sure that Satan will suffer for all eternity in hell.
The first time Jesus came to earth, only a few wise men bowed down before Him. When He comes back, every knee will bow down before Him.”
“God’s answer to the problem of pain and suffering is a person – the person of Jesus Christ. Christ has stepped right into all the pain and suffering. … It is the cross then, that is the victory of God over pain and suffering, and the only place for men and women to find peace, hope, and comfort …” (Gould)
Conclusion: How do I remember this when in the valley?
1. Remember that God often works in the unseen. Just because we can’t see it or feel it doesn’t mean He isn’t working.
2 Corinthians 4:18 “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”.
2. What may feel like a lack of intervention is not a sign of His lack of affection.
Lamentations 3:21-23 “… Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
3. Recall the ways God has carried you through the struggles of the past.
Psalm 77:11-12 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
4. Trust that God understands. He made you.
Psalm 103:14 says, “for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”
5. Receive the Comfort of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16 AMPC “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and
Standby), that He may remain with you forever, the Spirit of Truth…”
Today, reject the myth that God doesn’t really care. Instead, stand on the rock of our salvation and know that God’s assurances are yours.
- Renewing your faith in Him in Prayer
- Engaging your faith in Him by Repentance and Baptism
___________________
Questions For Discussion
1. We discussed four characteristics of God. Which one of
those resonated with you the most? (He is all powerful, all
present, all loving, all knowing.)
2. What does assurance mean to you - how do you receive
God’s assurance that He cares and is present?
3. In what way(s) is Jesus God’s answer to the problem of pain
and suffering?
4. Someone said, “God loves us too much to answer our
prayers at any other time than the right time, and in any
other way than the right way.” How can a statement like that
help us in difficult times? (See Romans 8:28)
5. What does it mean to you personally that God has adopted
us (Galatians 4:4-7)?
6. Can you remember a time when God worked in an unseen
way in your life, that was revealed later? Or can you think of
an example of a Bible character who experienced God
working in an unseen way through the events of his/her life?
How can this encourage you in difficult days?
7. How does the Holy Spirit act as a Comforter in our
hardships?
8. Was there anything else you’d like to talk about today?
_________________
Resources
Gould, Paul. God Does Not Care For Me. The Case Against God.
https://www.paul-gould.com/2014/02/26/god-does-not-care-for-me-the-case-against-god/
Moffitt, Jon. Why Does God Not Care About Me?
https://theocast.org/why-does-god-not-care-about-me/
Peters-Tanksley, Carol. 5 Things to Do When You Feel God Doesn’t Care.
https://www.drcarolministries.com/5-things-to-do-when-you-feel-like-god-doesnt-care/
Pruitt, Shane. 9 Common Lies Christians Believe. Multnomah, 2019.
TerKeurst, Lisa. Does God Even Care About Me?
https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2020/12/29/does-god-even-care-about-me
___________________
To receive sermon notes in your email inbox, subscribe here:
https://forsythesermons.substack.com/
To receive emails from John Dobbs on topics of faith, books, photography, and miscellany: https://johndobbs.substack.com/
To watch videos of sermons from Forsythe Church of Christ:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ForsytheChurchofChrist
Our church website is http://facoc.org
___________________
