Many people have differing perspectives of God. Some view him as all powerful, some see him
as the creator of the world while others look at God as the judge of mankind. God is all these things, but
he should also be viewed as the one who can successfully guide us through life. Unfortunately, there
are individuals that find it difficult to believe God cares for them and the path they take from day to day.
These are the people that go through life blaming God for every reverse they face. They
question God, asking, “Why me?” and “Why didn’t God stop this horrible thing from happening?” They
grumble, “if God really cared, then he would have worked this out for me!” These people believe that
God is far away, up in the clouds of heaven, too busy to notice us little people down on earth. Perhaps
they feel that he is rather indifferent towards mankind or enjoys watching us struggle to work things out
down below. This could not be any farther from the truth.

To better understand the love that God has for us, let us look at the love Jesus showed while
here on earth. Many have learned the scripture John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Truly,
this is the greatest proof of God’s love for mankind, that he would give his only Son to die for our sins.
This is also abundant proof of Jesus’ love for souls, as he himself said in John 15:13, “Greater love hath
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” This amazing selfless act of sacrifice is still
not enough to convince some of God’s care for them in a personal way.

Therefore, consider Christ’s prayer, or what I like to think of as his love letter to his church. This
is found in John, chapter 17. Here we see Christ praying to God, his Father. He knows that he is coming
to the end of his time here on earth. He has finished his ministry here and his disciples have believed in
him and kept his word. They have worked by his side and grown to love him dearly. Christ knows that
he will be crucified and going back to heaven soon. While his work is about to be finished on earth, his
disciples’ work is just about to begin. He is concerned for them. He knows that his death will shake
them. He cares enough to pray for them. Verse 20 says, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them
also which shall believe on me through their word.” Christ now expands his prayer to include all future
believers. He knows that he is about to die not just for the twelve that have walked daily by his side, but
for all future generations of man. His concern is that we all be kept in this world, but not of it. His
desire is that we obey his word while living in this world. He also beseeches his Father in verse 24,
“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold
my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” Christ
loved each of us enough before we were even born to pray that we would believe on Him and one day
be with Him in heaven!

God does not want us to struggle through life blindly. Not only did He give His Son as an
example to us in all things, He has also promised to be our guide through life. Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct
thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” We can depend on
God’s guidance to help us through all of life’s twists and turns. If we follow Him, we will find Him to be,
“…our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1).

-C.L.Karns