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Does Jesus Care

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth and song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I’ve said, “Good-bye”
To the dearest on Earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Oh, yes, He cares; I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief.
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know My Savior cares.

–Frank E. Graeff
* * *
In medieval times, the goldsmiths had a unique method to determine when the refining fire had purged away all extraneous matter from the precious metal.

They would stand patiently and peer intently into the seething, molten mass, meantime making the fire hotter and hotter. At last, a smile of satisfaction would lighten up the perspiring face of the goldsmith. He could see his face reflected in the molten mass of gold. Seeing his face mirrored there, he knew that the refining fire had wrought its purifying purpose.

Peter admonished, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you” (1 Peter 4:12a).

When God sees the image of His Son reflected in our lives, He knows that His purifying fires have wrought their intended purpose.

* * *
An elderly man asked a boy to go with him into the woods to cut down some hickory trees to make axe handles. They soon came to several young hickory trees. The boy said, “These trees would make good axe handles. Let’s cut them down.” The old man said, “These trees in the lowlands have been protected from the storms which rage higher up. Let’s go to the heights where the trees have been rocked back and forth by fierce winds. Those trees have been hardened by the tempest and they will make much stronger axe handles!”

Those who have been exposed to difficulties, rocked to and fro by the temptations, but who have not yielded to them, are made stronger. We can be “more than conquerors through Him that loved us!” (Romans 8:37).

Job said, “When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

* * *
For feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God,
Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned,
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever;
For, though all things shall pass away,
His Word shall stand forever.