Does Jesus Care?

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

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.

`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 there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

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

BIBLE REFERENCE:

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:5

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:25-34

Joseph Lincoln Hall - Composer
1866-1930

Born: November 4, 1866, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Died: November 29, 1930, at the home of his brother
Walter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Buried: Northwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Frank E. Graeff - Lyrics
1860-1919

Born: December 19, 1860, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
Died: July 29, 1919, at Ocean Grove, New Jersey
Buried: Riverside Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania.

HYMN HISTORY:

Is God really present and concerned during my times of hurt? Does He care, when the burdens weigh heavily on my every thought and activity? Does He care, when I can no longer endure some strong testings? Does He care, when I must say a final farewell to my dearest loved one on earth?

These questions and doubts are common to nearly all of God’s children at some time or other in life, just as they were to the author of this text, Frank E. Graeff. Mr. Graeff was a minister in the Methodist denomination and served some of its leading churches, in Philadelphia Conference. Throughout the district, he was known as the “sunshine minister.” C. Austin Miles, author of the popular hymn, “In the Garden,” paid this tribute to Frank Graeff:

He is a spiritual optimist, a great friend of children; his bright sun-shining disposition attracts him not only to children, but to all with whom he comes in contact. He has a holy magnetism and a child-like faith.

In spite of his outwardly-cheery disposition and winsome personality, Graeff was often called upon to go through severe testing experiences in his life. It was while passing through such a test and experiencing severe despondency, doubt and physical agony, that Mr. Graeff wrote this text. He turned to the Scriptures for solace and strength. First Peter 5:7 became especially meaningful to him during this particular struggle:

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”

The phrase, “He careth for you,” spoke deeply to his need and eventually became the basis for this text.

Frank Graeff was born on December 19, 1860, in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, and died on July 29, 1919, at Ocean Grove, New Jersey. At an early age, he felt called of God to the Christian ministry and was admitted to the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Church, in 1890. Graeff was always interested in the children in his churches and became well-known for his story-telling ability with the youngsters. Altogether, Mr. Graeff authored more than 200 hymns as well as a successful novel, The Minister's Twins.

The composer of the music, J. Lincoln Hall, was a prominent person in the fields of gospel and sacred music throughout his life. He graduated with high honors from the University of Pennsylvania and later received the honorary Doctor of Music degree from Harriman University. Hall was a highly respected song leader, choral conductor, composer, and music publisher. He wrote music for many cantatas, oratorios, anthems, and hundreds of gospel songs. For many years, he was associated with the Hall-Mack Publishing Company in Philadelphia, which later merged with the Rodeheaver Publishing Company in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Hall composed this music especially for Graeff’s text. It was copyrighted in 1901. Mr. Hall once remarked that his musical setting was his most inspired piece of music. The first publication of the hymn seems to have been, in 1905, in the hymnal, New Songs of the Gospel, No. 2, published by the Hall-Mack Company.

To experience times of question and even doubts regarding the nearness of God, as Frank Graeff did in the verses of this hymn, is only human and normal. It is only as a believer comes through such a struggle, however, with the firm conviction as Mr. Graeff did in the chorus of this hymn, “O yes He cares, I know He cares,” that a child of God can be truly victorious.

“Among so many, can He care?
Can special love be everywhere?
A myriad homes–a myriad ways–
And God’s eye over every place?
I asked: my soul bethought of this:
In just that very place of His
Where He hath put and keepeth you,
God hath no other thing to do!”

A.D.T. Whitney

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Many have written us telling of the burdens each is carrying. Maybe your burden is physical or financial, or concerning a loved one and the weight of this burden is very heavy. Jesus cares for each one of His children and he tells us to cast our burdens upon Him. At this point some would say, "that's easy for them to say, they don't know what I am going through." But we do. This past year Myra and I have been through, and still are, going through some very deep trials of our own. We have the peace He gives in knowing that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). We do not know to what end this testing will lead us, but we are constantly seeking Him and desire to be in His perfect will. In Matthew 28:20, the Lord comforts us by saying that He is with us always, even unto the end of this world. And what is the end for those of us who are His? It is only the beginning, for we will be with Him forever and ever. Don't loose heart beloved.

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