Have you ever noticed how many Bible verses talk about caring for animals in some way? Isaiah 40:11 says, ‘He will tend his flock like a shepherd’ (NIV). Psalm 147:9 says that God ‘gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry’ (NLT). Proverbs 12:10 tells us: ‘The godly care for their animals’ (NLT). Ever thought about godliness from that perspective? As Christians, we’re called to care for each other and have compassion for everyone. That’s what God wants us to do. It’s what Jesus taught us. But the proverb is reminding us that godliness doesn’t stop there. We also need to be compassionate and caring towards all of God’s creation. If you have a pet (or had one when you were younger), have a think about the way you care for it. You try and create a suitable environment for it to live in. You feed it and meet its basic needs and look after it when it’s sick or distressed. You spend time with it, loving it and enjoying its company. When you think about it, caring for a pet is a scaled-down representation of how God cares for His creation, and for us. Matthew 6:26 reminds us that God cares for every single bird. Imagine how much more He cares for us, His children. God’s love is much bigger than we can grasp. He created a world for us to live in. He wants us to trust Him to meet our needs. He’ll draw close to us when we’re suffering. And He loves us and desires us to seek His companionship and spend time with Him. We’ll probably never be able to fully understand the depth of His love for us, but in caring for others, including animals, we get a glimpse of what His love is like.
What now?
Write down five ways God has answered your prayers or met your needs. Keep your list in your Bible, and then whenever you feel anxious, read it to remind yourself of God’s goodness.