A mix of history and tradition bring us the touching story of George Washington and his beleaguered troops at Valley Forge. Weather beaten, shoeless, hungry and tired, many had lost hope. Writing a letter requesting reinforcements, supplies and food, George Washington poured his heart out to the intended recipient, The Continental Congress. At the end of the note as a poignant post script accompanying his signature, he added the words, “Is anybody there? Does anybody care?”
Among the most moving words found in scripture are those spoken by David in Psalm 142:4 where he said, “I looked on my right hand and beheld, but there was no man that would know me. Refuge failed me. No man cared for my soul. ” I can sense David’s despair even as I re-write his agonizing statement.
At some point, we all wonder about it.
Who knows?
Who listens?
Who cares?
Admiration and popularity are fleeting. When your ship has come in, you can be met at the dock with friends you didn’t even know you had. Jesus experienced that himself when word spread about his mass production of the loaves and fish and how he fed the five thousand hungry people. Not long afterward however, he knelt all alone in the Garden of Gethsemane while his closest disciples slept the hours away.
Human nature?
I suppose so.
Thankfully, in our walk with God, we are not left to the frailties and unconcern of human nature. God knows and Jesus cares.
It’s interesting that in another passage after David experienced ultimate disappointment in men, he expressed overwhelming confidence in God. Confidence in His omniscience, His omnipotence and His omnipresence.
Read carefully the passage found in Psalm 138: 8-10 as he described his confidence in God’s Omnipresence. “If I ascend to Heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Hell, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall uphold me.”
Then in Psalm 34:6 you can almost hear his rejoicing voice declare the words, “This poor man cried and the Lord delivered him out of all of his trouble.”
What a swing in confidence. From little to no confidence in men to full and compete confidence in God. David is represents a lot of us who have discovered that no one really cares like Jesus.
An old hymn sums it up pretty well…
Does Jesus care when my soul is pained
Too deeply for mirth and song
All the burdens press and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long
Then the chorus proclaims aloud the firm answer…
Oh yes he cares, I know he cares
His heart is touched with my grief
When the day are weary and the long night dreary,
I know my savior cares.
What a beautiful song. Even more, what a beautiful thought. But also remember that Jesus cares through you. He reaches through your hands and walks within your steps in order to loveothers.
Be available for him to use the next time someone is asking, “Is anybody listening and does anybody care?”
Tim Hill
