A Prayer When It Feels Like No One Cares
By Kelly Balarie
Bible Reading:
“For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” – John 7:5 NIV
Listen or Read Below:
I can’t say why it’s happening, but it seems people I thought would care are not caring enough.
I have to ask myself… am I too sensitive about such matters? Entitled?
Only God knows. I don’t want to expect too much; at the same time, I have to ask myself – what if the problem isn't them, but me? What if I’m the reason why they ignore me? Don’t see me? Don’t care?
Have you ever asked questions like these? Like me, have you ever struggled with a little bout of insecurity or uncertainty regarding relationships?
Be encouraged. Acknowledging this and bringing it before Jesus is half the battle, and soon, great progress will follow. On the other hand, to pretend everything is okay, to continually judge others, and to act superficially could easily fall into the bucket of pride.
Needless to say, I think we are making good headway here. Plus, we aren’t alone in our feelings of being misunderstood and not fully known.
In some ways, I believe Jesus felt this way. Jesus had a time when he was unheard. A time when the disciples didn’t really care about what He had to say. They thought He should go to Judea. Jesus told them it wasn’t his time. They still tried to convince him, anyway, that he needed to secure publicity. That he must show himself and make himself known. They didn’t understand.
I can only imagine how misunderstood Jesus felt when “…even his own brothers did not believe in him.” – John 7:5 NIV
It is easy to feel people don’t believe in us when they don’t regard the words that come from us.
However, two things stand out about Jesus in this story that are also true for us today:
1. Just because some people don’t care (or understand), doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care.
Yes, in this case, the disciples didn’t really care about Jesus’ perspective; they cared more about their own. Yet, this didn’t mean that Father God didn’t care. He greatly cared about Jesus, His will being done, and His own Son’s journey. Jesus had a Father who cared for Him, and so do we.
2. Just because people don’t believe in you doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a great plan for you.
Man may have an idea of what is best, but sometimes it is a test. Will we bow down to man, or will we walk in love, humility, and trust God no matter how others act?
Ultimately, man is not our Maker; God is. At the same time, it is wise to ask if we are putting too many of our proverbial emotional eggs into other people’s baskets. Does people’s tone of voice often hurt us? Are we continually slighted? Do small gestures feel like big attacks? Does it seem like everyone doesn’t like us?
Pride, ultimately, is self-centeredness. Just as pride can be gloating, it can equally be doting on the flesh, and thinking it deserves more.
Where has pride entered? Where has the pursuit of others’ love trumped loving others?
Let’s Pray:
Father,
I thank you for caring for me. I thank you that you have a specific, good, and perfect plan for my life. I trust you. Help me to keep my eyes on my lane so that I can see forth your assigned will for my life.
I don’t want to be so consumed with others that I miss you. Forgive me. Equip me with new eyes to see the good things you are doing instead of the bad.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Discuss today’s devotional with others in the Your Daily Prayer thread on the Crosswalk Forum.
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Kelly uplifts believers with boosts of faith; be encouraged weekly by getting Kelly’s blog posts by email. Kelly, a cheerleader of faith, is a blogger, national speaker, and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly loves seeing the power of prayer in action. She loves seeing the expression on women’s faces when they realize – their God is faithful! Kelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, CBN’s 700 Club, Relevant and Today’s Christian Woman.
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For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.
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