Have you ever considered the thought that no chapter of our lives remains unseen by God, no emotion unfelt, no obstacle unacknowledged by his care, and no sin covered by his grace? Sometimes, we may wonder if God knows how we feel, what is happening to us, and if God cares enough to get us through it. So maybe you believe that God is with you, but how is that making a difference in your daily life? How does knowing that God cares about you change how you feel and go about your life?
To speak to this, we are looking at the story of King David, a narrative that highlights God’s unwavering presence in our triumphs and trials and what happens to us when we know God is with us and cares.
Who was King David in the Bible? King David is one of history’s most compelling figures, a man whose life story is shaped by faith, courage, struggles, and sin. He is known for his bravery, piety, and leadership and is considered to be one of Israel’s greatest kings. The Bible specifically says of him that he was after God’s own heart. What does that mean? Was he blameless, always doing the right thing? Far from it. So why was he described in such a manner? Let’s look at his story.
David’s story begins with his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy. He was Jesse’s youngest son out of seven brothers. However, when he was about 15 or 17 years old, he was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the successor to King Saul. The Bible tells us that when the prophet Samuel followed God’s directions to find God’s chosen king for the nation of Israel, Samuel came to David last. He was unassuming as he was young. His humble beginnings did not imply or elicit any kind of greatness. He was not chosen for his appearance, strength, skills, or any other ability. He was chosen because he had a heart that trusted God.
The significance of how he was chosen is what matters to us today. When Samuel saw him, he knew he was the chosen one because God’s presence was with him. The anointing oil that Samuel poured upon David’s head was not merely a ritual; it was the tangible symbol of God’s presence, a marker that David would never walk alone from that day forward.
One of the earliest examples of that is when he confronted Goliath, a giant leading the Philistine army against Israel, saying, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” When Goliath saw David, he said, “Come here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” (1 Samuel 17: 44-45)
Most of you probably know what happened next. Using a stone and a sling, David toppled him and quickly moved to cut his head off. His triumph over Goliath was not a display of youthful bravado but a profound act of faith. After this, he went on to become a trusted adviser to King Saul, but after Saul’s death, David was anointed as the new king of Israel.
This is a powerful story that teaches us that David’s superpower was nothing else but his ability to trust in God’s presence in his life, even against impossible odds. His many victories on the battlefield were a testament to that, so much so that his name became synonymous with the favor and blessing of God.
Yet, David was not a man without struggles. His life was marked by moments of great moral failure, personal loss, and heart-wrenching betrayal. He grappled with the consequences of his actions, from his affair with Bathsheba to his indirect murder of her husband, Uriah, and the rebellion of his own son, Absalom. His moral failures were as public as his victories.
However, through seasons of triumph, trial, and sin, David remained a man after God’s own heart, not because he was flawless, but because he understood the grace and forgiveness of his Creator. In every victory, he gave thanks to God; in every failure, he sought God’s face and forgiveness; in every moment of doubt, he pursued God’s wisdom; in uncertainty, he rested in God’s promises. His life was a canvas displaying the full spectrum of human experience, faith, love, sin, repentance, and salvation.
So, what does this mean for us today? It means that, like King David, our faith and worth depend not on our perfection but on God’s grace. David was a man after God’s own heart because he sought God earnestly, repented sincerely, and loved deeply. He did not just acknowledge God; he walked with God and trusted him. David’s life was not marked by the absence of strife but by the presence of God in the midst of it.
I have told you the story of a season in my life and ministry when I was in a dark place. I was experiencing betrayal, persecution, doubt, uncertainty, and fear. I was sick physically and mentally with all the drama and problems I was dealing with. I did not understand what was going on. I was confused and starting to get lost. But one day, I surrendered to God in prayer, acknowledging all my fears and concerns, and I asked God for help. I asked him to show me a way through the darkness. For that, I did something I had never done before: I opened the Bible expecting God to speak to me in a supernatural way through the first words I saw. And this is the text that I read,
“They said, “Come, let’s make plans against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophets. So come, let’s attack him with our tongues and pay no attention to anything he says.” Listen to me, Lord; hear what my accusers are saying! Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember that I stood before you and spoke in their behalf to turn your wrath away from them.” Jeremiah 18:18-20
As soon as I read this, all my fears, insecurities, and concerns vanished. It changed everything when God revealed to me through Jeremiah’s plight that he was aware of my struggles. When I realized that God knew my struggles by acknowledging them through my reading of the Bible, I felt safe and cared for. The reason is because I knew that God knew. When I read these words, it was God telling me what was happening to me, which helped me realize that God was not going to let me down. I regained confidence and trust at that moment, knowing that God knew and cared.
I believe this is similar to what David experienced in his life many times and what gave him the confidence to trust God in all circumstances. He knew God knew, and he knew God was always with him in the victories and the suffering. He wrote one time,
“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalms 139: 8-10
How incredibly wonderful to know and trust that God is with you because he loves you and will not give up on you. King David knew that very well.
The important question for us today is: Do we know this, too? Do you know that God knows? Do you know that God cares? Do you know that God’s presence is all around you?
Just like I shared with you about my experience, knowing that God knows, cares, and is with us is what gives us supernatural resilience and confidence that though the current circumstances may look grim, we know we will make it through. This is where peace comes from, not from the absence of trouble, suffering, or evil but from the overwhelming assurance that God is with us through it all. When we face the giants and persecution, and when we face our own guilt and shame, God knows and cares. That is what happened to Kind David; that is what happened to me. And most likely, that is what happens to you, too.
So, you may find yourself in situations where your faith is tested, the odds seem insurmountable, or your journey takes an unexpected turn. But remember, no chapter in your life is hidden from God. He sees every tear, hears every prayer, and understands every fear.
Perhaps you are facing a giant problem in your life, feeling as David did before Goliath. Or maybe you are wrestling with moral failures, personal loss, or betrayal. In these moments, the story of David reminds us to trust that God knows, cares, and wants to bring healing.
If you are in a dark place, feeling lost, confused, or burdened by life’s trials, I encourage you to do as I did—turn to God in prayer. Surrender your fears and ask for his guidance. Open God’s Word with the expectation that he will speak to you. The scriptures are not just ancient texts but the living voice of God to us today.
The good news is that God is everywhere we have been, and everywhere we will go. He is in the classroom, the courtroom, the office, the home, and the hospital room. He is with us in life and death. He is the only one who can be with us no matter what or where.
I invite you today to take heart and trust in God’s knowing care. He knows your path and has not left you to walk it alone. In every victory, give thanks to him; in every setback, seek his face; in every sin, trust his grace. Pursue his wisdom in every doubt and rest in his promises when the way forward is unclear. And, in the week ahead, intentionally recognize God’s presence in every situation, give thanks for the victories, seek guidance through challenges, and rest in the promise of God’s faithful companionship. Let this awareness transform how you approach each day, knowing that “God Knows and Cares” about you personally and profoundly.
As we pray, let’s do so with the confidence that comes from knowing God knows us, loves us, and is actively involved in our lives. May this assurance transform your heart, renew your mind, and guide your steps this coming week and always.
