Advent Day 5: Does Anyone Care?

Good morning, friend!

Have you ever lived through one of those seasons? You know, the ones when it seems that no matter what you do or say, regardless of how loudly you scream or wail, despite the frantic and panicky SOS signals you send, all you get in return is __________________.

Nada.
Niente.

Blank stares.
"Talk to the hand" responses.

No one cares.
Not a soul seems to heed your cries for help.

I have had my share of such seasons. I know what it is like to feel squeezed by the pressures of invisibility and lovelessness. Yet, as I ponder the message of Advent this morning, I am made aware of a most significant truth:

When in dire straits, it is tempting for me to believe the oft-rehearsed lie that no one cares.

Hmmm.
Is it a lie?
Yup. It is definitely a lie.

Moreover, when a kind soul lends me a helping hand, I mistakenly resent the kindness of such a one seeing it more like a pitiful act of charity.

You may say, "What is so threatening about people in need being offered charity or assistance?"

The more I think about life and people, the more convinced I am that you and I are afraid of two main things -- appearing too weak and being unloved. Despite walls of pride and self-gratification erected to meet those needs, we often find ourselves dissatisfied and despairing. We tend to be a "been there, done that" type of people striving to be so independent that, if we are helped once, we work very hard to prevent ourselves from ever being in that position of weakness again.

While this attitude might bring us earthly success, it goes against the grain of the gospel, which tells us that Christ, the Coming Once, cares for us and loves us deeply. He cares enough to have justified us at Calvary over two thousand years ago, enough to continue offering us daily justification, and enough to be forever the only One who can justify us. Whether caused by the desire to save face, to keep appearances or to practice self-righteousness, the weak/unloved stigma plaguing our hearts has a most depleting impact on us, giving us a load that is much too hard to bear.

And what is this load of which I speak?

I, for one, grow tired from striving to be self-sufficient, self-reliant, self-sustaining, self-fulfilling . . . I am exhausted from feeling weak, ineffective, unheard, inefficient, unsolicited, inadequate . . . I grow weary from feeling unloved, uncared for, unwanted . . .

Where is hope?
To what truth shall I turn?

Today, I am grateful for the hope of Advent that reminds me of One who always hears my cries, knows my sorrows, relates to my predicament, notices my efforts, understands my struggles, wrestles on my behalf, and bandages my wounds. Hope is found in the Coming King who is both strong and loving -- in Him I can be complete.

So, whenever it seems like nobody cares, I am grateful for the reminder to look again and listen closely: Christ cares. Christ loves deeply. He is indeed the Hope of glory, the Comforter of my heart, the sole Satisfier of my soul!