Who really cares?

Are you ever tempted to think that no one REALLY cares?  I know I am at times whether I am working hard at home, going to church, visiting friends, or browsing Facebook. Every once it a while if just feels like no one REALLY cares. 

My guess is that most of us have similar feelings once in a while and also that most of us, in fact, do have people around us that really care, though they may not be showing it in the ways we want sometimes. 

In these situations I have found a few things to be true.

1. Someone hurt me.  Notice the word was singular.  One.  Why is it that when one person hurts us we instantly feel like NO ONE really cares about us?  It sounds kind of silly to just say it right?  Still that feeling can stick with us increasing the pain.

2. There are false expectations.  Oh how those expectations kill us, you know, those expectations we don’t even know we have.  We tend to think, even subconsciously, that the way we do things is the right way.   Sometimes these things are cultural; other times they can just be personality differences. 

One way I see people hurt on a regular basis is through finding things out on Facebook.  People can be so furious to find something out on Facebook that they would have EXPECTED to be told personally.  While there are instances when you can’t blame someone for being upset, most of the time I think people overreact. 

When I am really hurting, I don’t want to talk to anyone; for me it’s too hard and makes me feel much worse to have to talk about it.  People can say really stupid things and then you have to deal with that in the midst of the pain.  No.  I don’t want to talk about it.  When I went through my first miscarriage, I called my mom.  That’s it.  I asked her to please tell the rest of the family, and then I posted a note on Facebook for everyone else to read since most of my friends already knew I was expecting.  That’s how I handle pain.  Others would never think of posting something like that on Facebook.  We can’t expect everyone to do things the way we do.

3. The focus is inward when it should be outward.  When we are hurt and dealing with false expectations, and are tempted to think no one cares, the easiest thing to do is turn inward, but it’s also the worst thing.  If we are Bible believers, then we should always turn to God instead of turning inward.  The TRUTH is that no matter the situation, God REALLY cares. 1 Peter 5:7  (NKJV) “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  Living in light of the Gospel, we can forgive others because God has forgiven us.  Instead of dwelling on me and my pain or hurt feelings, it is so much more profitable to think of others.

When we’re tempted to start wondering if anyone REALLY cares, we should think of someone we REALLY care about and let them know instead. Turn the hurt around and bless someones else.  It will do our hearts good!