A God that Cares

There was a popular song a few years back that said, "From a distance God is watching us...."
There are some who subscribe to the Deist theory of God. That is that God created this Earth and its inhabitants and then just walked away, or stands afar off watching, but not interfering, and uncaring. I do not subscribe to this point of view!
Consider the Gospel of Mark Chapter 4 and verses 33-38. Here the crowds have gathered around the waters edge and Jesus is teaching them from bow of a fishing boat. He is using parables to teach them. Then he decides to put his disciples into the middle of a living parable:
MK 4:33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

MK 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

MK 4:39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

MK 4:40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

MK 4:41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Notice that verse 36 says, "...they took him along, just as he was, in the boat."
When the storms came up Jesus was in the boat with them! It could not be made any more plain: when the storms of life come up, he is "in the boat" with us!
So why doesn't it seem that way to us? It is because we are focused on the waves, and he is focused on our faith. We are too concerned about the natural experience going on around us, he is concerned with our spirit. When the disciples cried out, "don't you care if we drown?", Jesus' reply was, ["where is your faith"].
This was about teaching them faith and trust. He told them to go to the other side, he was in the boat with them. You could say that he put them in that situation for the trying and growth of their faith.
This life and this world are temporary. God gave both to us. He is able, and has promised to give us a new life, a new heaven, and new Earth, based on faith! He cares, he cares, he cares, but his priorities are on the eternal. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."(1Peter 5:6,7)
I leave you with this post 9/11 apologetic:

THE STAIRWELL

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news
On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called
his wife to say "Good-Bye."
I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say,
"Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK...I am ready to go."

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help.
"I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said.
"Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now."

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the
injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven.
He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer..
I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name - though not all know Me.
Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames;
"Come to Me... this way... take my hand."
Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?
September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you.
But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found.
Then, at any moment, you know you are "ready to go."

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

GOD OUR FATHER