He Hears and He Cares
Scripture
Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
—Psalm 86:1–10 (NIV)
Psalm 86 gives us a glimpse into the depth of David’s faith and the nature of his relationship with God. In the opening verses, we hear a desperate cry. Hear me, answer me, guard my life, bring me joy. David does not shy away from expressing his need. He believes God hears him, sees him, and will respond. He is not praying out of ritual. He is praying from deep dependence, trusting that God is near and engaged in the details of his life.
“We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts.”¹
— A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
Tozer names exactly the confidence David is praying from. David is not trying to get God’s attention from a distance. He is speaking to a God who is already near, already listening, already engaged before the prayer has even finished being formed. That is why David can shift, beginning in verse five, from his need to God’s character. You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. How we view God shapes how we relate to Him. Do you believe He is good? Forgiving? Abounding in love? Or do you see Him as distant and disinterested? David is convinced that God’s love is expansive and available to anyone who calls on Him, and that includes you and everyone you know.
David ends this section of the psalm by declaring God’s uniqueness. Among the gods there is none like You. He marvels at God’s power and greatness, yet what is even more astounding is that this all-powerful God listens. He hears our prayers and responds with mercy. He cares deeply about the intimate details of our lives. He is not too busy, too distant, or too disinterested. He hears, and He cares.
As followers of Jesus, that should give us deep confidence, not only to draw near to God with boldness, but to reflect that same compassion toward others. If He listens to us, we should be people who listen well. If He is merciful to us, we should extend mercy freely. The more we grasp His nearness and love, the more it should shape the way we live, love, and serve.
Reflection:
- Do you approach God with confidence that He hears and cares for you personally?
- How has your view of God’s character shaped the way you pray or respond in distress?
- In what ways can you reflect God’s mercy and attentiveness to the people around you today?
Prayer:
Thank God for being a loving Father who hears your voice and responds with mercy. Ask Him to deepen your trust in His nearness and goodness. Pray for a heart that reflects His compassion, both in how you pray and how you treat others.
Footnote:
¹ A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, 1948).