What is mankind that you are mindful of them, Human beings that you care for them?
Psalm 8:4
Jesus said “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:26
The Creator of this world cares for human beings more than everything else he has made. That is the deep truth that we can rest in here. Our heavenly Father takes care of His world – he provides, he protects, he watches over; he notices the small details such as a hungry bird. But we are more valuable than any bird and he provides, protects, and watches over us with great care and attention.
Our God does not stand far off. He does not say, ‘Just carry on, and hope for the best.’ No, he sees and notices the trouble we are in. He helps the fatherless, he hears the cries of the afflicted, he encourages the weak and weary.
The depth of that care is no more clearly seen than in the sending of his Son. We may be blessed with family, good health, and other good things of this life. But we are ever conscious of the trouble we were in, of our need for forgiveness. The wretched death of that beloved Son was the cost that brought our freedom and welcome into his family.
We matter so much to God, and he cares for us more than we can imagine.
Rest in this truth today.
Thank you, Lord, for the depth of your care for me. Fill my mind with all the different ways you have demonstrated that care. Thank you that you hear my cries, even when they are tiny silent groans. Thank you, Jesus, for being willing to confront the evil in this world and to die in my place, so that one day, I will see you face to face and enjoy fullness of life in your kingdom. Amen.
In the last few weeks, as I’ve chatted with a number of women, I’ve seen how adept they are at juggling and pivoting. But we have many balls to juggle in life. Our plans go awry, and those balls just start tumbling. And this is when we feel the weariness and stress and think, ‘I can’t keep doing this.’
The question for us as pastoral carers is whether Jesus saw any other significance in laying down his life for the sheep. And consequently, is there a type of sacrifice which Jesus calls his followers in pastoral care to make?
The God of all grace is not remote and he doesn’t simply delegate to others. He is willing, so to speak, to get his hands dirty.
This was a moment of grace, during an ordinary routine, given to me by our creator God. Pumpkins had given me a new song to sing.
The Mental Health & Pastoral Care Institute is a part of Mary Andrews College, an Anglican Deaconess Ministry.
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