Someone Who Truly Cares
- Elijah McSwain
- Jul 27
- 10 min read
7/26/2025
Elijah McSwain, Sr.
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV) "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
The world in which we live often conveys undertones of carelessness, insensitivity, thoughtlessness, and being inconsiderate. Everyone appears to be primarily concerned with their own agenda and well-being. As people are consumed with their own lives and absorbed in their own affairs, empathy and sympathy are often lacking. Most people live by the motto “me, myself, and I”. Inevitably, it seems like they never have time to check on the welfare of others, which causes others to bear burdens alone. In life, people face many concerns, worries, cares, ups and downs, highs and lows, and experiences that range from mountains to valleys, making life feel like a roller coaster. We will face many challenging times in life. Life will be comprised of struggles of various kinds. The songwriter, Dottie Peoples, wrote, “I've had trials and tribulations
unexpected situations, living here below.”
Life in general will test you.
Job declared in Job 14:1 (NKJV), “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Unfortunately, problems are a part of our human experience. We will experience troubling moments from different angles and directions. There will be times when we feel as if we are boxed in and backed up against the ropes like a boxer. The odds may not seem to be in our favor as we undergo the pressures of life. In such situations, life under distress becomes a pressure cooker, and our internal pressure becomes more than we can bear.
Our lives become filled with anxiety, sorrow, despair, restlessness, unease, frustration, turmoil, discouragement, and hopelessness. Life begins to weigh us down, and we begin to think that no one cares about us or what we are going through.
However, our present reality involves the realism that there is someone who truly cares, as affirmed in 1 Peter 5:7. To understand the buildup from the opening chapters of 1 Peter to 1 Peter 5:7, it is helpful to consider that believers were dispersed in various places to whom Peter was writing. The pilgrims were dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, as stated in 1 Peter 1:1. Upon possessing this knowledge, Peter intentionally addressed and dealt with the fiery trials that they suffered for Christ’s sake and the relentless attacks of Satan (cf. 1 Peter 4:12-19 and 1 Peter 5:8-11). Sandwiched between 1 Peter 4:12-19 and 1 Peter 5:8-11, Peter informed these scattered believers to cast their cares upon the Lord, for He cares for you.
During perplexing moments in our lives, it is important to remember that we have someone who truly cares about us.
The Lord Displays His Interest In Us
To understand the nature of the Lord’s care for us, the word “cares” (melei) that Peter used implies the idea of being of interest. Simply put, God takes an interest in our lives. Psalm 8:4 (ESV) depicts, “what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 144:3 (ESV) states similar verbiage, “O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think on him?” Lastly, Job 7:17-18a (ESV) is parallel to these verses in its declaration, “What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning?”
Out of all of His creation within the entire universe, the Lord pays special attention to humanity.
Albert Barnes probes this notion of the Lord’s special care for us in his assessment of “what is there in man that entitles him to so much notice? Why has God conferred on him so signal honour? Why should a God who is so vast and glorious, and who has all the starry worlds, so beautiful and grand, to claim his attention—why should he turn his thoughts on man? That thou visitest him. As thou dost; that is, with the attention and care which thou dost bestow upon him; not forgetting him; not leaving him; not passing him by. Here it refers to the attention bestowed by God on man in conferring on him such marks of favour and honour as he had done—such attention that he never seemed to forget him, but was constantly coming to him with some new proof of favour.” 1
The Lord has a special affection for humanity as we are created in His image and likeness (cf. Genesis 1:26). One scholar defines God’s unique relationship with us on the basis of man being “the crowning point of creation, a living human, made in God’s image. This defined man’s unique relation to God. Man is a living being capable of embodying God’s communicable attributes. In his rational life, he was like God in that he could reason and had intellect, will, and emotion.” 2 Humanity is set apart from other creatures of the earth in that we are capable of communicating with God, possess understanding of Him, and live within His desired will.
God cares about us as living and communicative creatures that He has made. He is fully invested, dedicated, committed, and interested in every aspect of our lives.
Therefore, with great intensity, He cares about our human activity, emotional well-being, physical well-being, and spiritual well-being. Simply put, God takes pleasure in the affairs of His creation, especially His children. Since we are His workmanship of creation and workmanship of redemption, the Lord cares for our well-being. Psalm 149:4a (NKJV) declares, “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people.” He takes pleasure in offering help to those He cares about. He is constantly aware of our circumstances and stands ready to help when we pursue His help.
The Lord Shows Concern for Us
The apostle Peter's use of the word “cares” (melei) from the dialect of the text shows God’s concern for us. The care or anxiety (merimna) that we suffer in life is a concern of the Lord. The words "care" and "anxiety" are often interchangeable in many Bible translations. Bruce Hurt wrote, “anxiety and fear is the fruit of the root of unbelief and unwillingness to accept God’s sovereignty over all of the aspects of one’s life. Faith (which comes by hearing… the Word of Christ) can break the stranglehold of anxiety and fear. Do you really trust God's sovereignty enough to cast your anxiety upon Him? The perfect cure for worry or anxiety is a child-like trust in our heavenly Father.” 3
Whatever is rooted in anxiety, worry, and fear suppresses one’s faith in God.
In 1 Peter 5:7, Peter aimed to reassure the scattered saints he addressed at the beginning of this epistle that the Lord was aware of their struggles, and He was concerned about their well-being. In the same sentiment, He regards our troubling moments with His watchful eyes, as He is very attentive to the hardships that we encounter. Hebrews 4:15 describes the Lord, our High Priest, as one who can sympathize with our weaknesses because He experienced human life. However, as He was tempted in every way, He remained without sin. Christ faced various temptations, but He did not give in to them or sin when under temptation.
Christ completely understands what it means to be human. Therefore, He shows His concern and care for us by sympathizing with us.
God is concerned about our financial struggles, family issues, grief, sorrow, pain, health problems, trouble, despair, discouragement, depression, loneliness, oppression, broken hearts, being crushed in spirit, doubts, fears, frustrations, hopelessness, and much more. Scripture indicates that the Lord is concerned with our cares, tribulations, adversity, difficulties, calamity, and misfortunes.
The Lord demonstrates His concern throughout the pages of the Bible.
He is concerned with mending our broken hearts (Psalms 34:18).
He is concerned with saving those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:19).
He is concerned with redeeming the soul of His servants in the midst of adversity (Psalm 34:22).
He listens and hears the cries of His people (Psalm 40:1).
He delivers His people out of horrible pits, the miry clay, and sets their feet on a rock of stability (Psalm 40:2).
He fights against those who fight against His children (Psalm 35:1 and Exodus 14:14).
He avenges our adversaries as He has declared vengeance was His and that He would repay. (Romans 12:19).
The Lord gives wisdom to those seeking wise counsel (Job 12:13 and James 1:5).
The Lord is our refuge and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
He is concerned when we are greatly troubled, as stated in Psalm 6.
The Lord grants rest to those who are heavy-laden (Matthew 11:28).
He gives renewal and strength to the weary and fainthearted (Isaiah 40:30-31).
He gives us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
He is able to preserve those on their sickbed (Psalm 41:3).
He is concerned with guiding our path in life (Proverbs 16:3 and Psalm 37:5).
He cares when you are fearful, for He says, “Fear not, I am with you; Be not dismayed for I am your God, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
He cares when we weep. “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
He cares about those who have turmoil in their heart, and He desires for us to hope in Him, the help of our countenance (Psalm 42:11).
God is concerned about our total being. Surely, the Lord is someone who truly cares.
Luther Barnes composed the song…..
Jesus cares when I'm burdened
Yes, He cares when I'm all alone
Yes, He cares when I'm in misery
Oh, He cares, He cares for me
And He cares when I'm discouraged
He's concern so earnestly
Yes, I know, I know Jesus cares
He cares for me, oh yes, He does
Jesus cares when I'm in sorrow
When my pain is so hard to bear
And He cares about my situation
It's so good to know He's always there
When my days are dark as night
He'll be there to make it alright
Yes, I know, I know Jesus cares
He cares for me
Sometimes I'm up, sometimes I'm down
I'm almost level to the ground
But I know (I know He cares)
That He cares (I know He cares)
For me (I know He cares for me)
When I'm down to my last dime
He'll step in, right on time
Because I know (I know He cares)
That He cares (I know He cares)
I know (I know He cares for me)
That He cares (I know He cares) 4
No matter the heavy load that you are bearing right now, Jesus cares.
The songwriter mentioned……
In case you have fallen by the wayside of life
Dreams and visions shattered, you're all broken inside
You don't have to stay in the shape that you're in
The potter wants to put you back together again
Oh, the potter wants to put you back together again
In case your situation has turned upside down
And all that you've accomplished is now on the ground
You don't have to stay in the shape that you're in
The potter wants to put you back together again. 5
The Remedy for All of Our Problems
Peter gives us the remedy in the opening of verse 7, he states to cast all your care upon Him for He cares for you. David Wall and Max Anders wrote that, “cast means “to throw something upon someone or something else.” This word suggests a deliberate decision of trust. We are to trust God with our anxiety, the things we worry about. The term (merimnan) means “to be drawn in different directions, to be divided or distracted.” Whatever we are anxious about tends to distract us from trusting God. It tends to pull us in different directions so that we do not depend on him. When we limp in this direction, we do not resist Satan but play into his hand. He wants us to put more trust in ourselves and others as opposed to God. Peter’s first-century readers, like their twentieth-century cousins, failed to remember this truth even in the midst of anguish and pain: God cares for you. The form in which the verb appears (present active indicative with the dative) indicates that God’s care and concern for believers is constant, ongoing, and unending. God is not indifferent to the suffering of his followers, but desires our active, humble trust in him, especially during difficult days.” 6
Believers should constantly cast their burdens on Him, as He is the only one capable of sustaining us. Psalm 55:22 (NKJV) advises God’s people to “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Bruce Hurts documented “our Lord's "shoulders" are broad enough and strong enough to bear your burden whatever it might be. The verb casting is in the active voice signifying that we must make a conscious, volitional choice, a choice of our will, to cast the burden on the Lord.” 3
Children of the Lord should voluntarily cast all of their burdens and cares on Him willingly through faith and prayer.
Philippians 4:6-7 reveals, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Relinquishing our problems by placing them in the hands of the Lord through believing prayer eases our load in the form of casting them on Him. Are we willing to trust God with all of our issues, problems, and pains? God is powerful, omnipotent. His power is limitless, and He will not succumb to any force, issue, or other power.
Every Christian should delight in casting our problems on the Problem Solver.
In 1 Samuel 30:6 (NKJV), “David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” David exhibited his faith in God during a difficult and challenging time in his life. In doing so, when he was weak because of the threat he faced, he became strong by trusting in the power of God. When we are vulnerable, remember that, as the Lord told Paul when he had a thorn in the flesh, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
When we are willing to cast our cares upon the Lord, He provides the remedy for our problems as someone who truly cares.
The hymnologist penned these words…..
I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.
Refrain:
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own. 7
Notes
Barnes, Albert. 1870–1872. Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms. Vol. 1. London: Blackie & Son.
The MacArthur Study Bible
https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/271224/Luther+Barnes/Jesus+Cares
https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1939700/Tramaine+Hawkins/The+Potter's+House
Walls, David, and Max Anders. 1999. I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude. Vol. 11. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
