Authentic caring before clear sharing (of the gospel, and your story) is so important.. even when you feel uncared for. Feelings are fickle, they come and go but we walk by faith.

Caring Before And During Your Sharing Is Imperative For Believers.. Even If You Feel Zip, Nada, Null, Nothing!  

You are cared for by God, believer, so talk with Him regularly about your situation! The Bible says you are cared for, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. [1 Pet. 5:6-7 NKJV]

The believer is cared-for even if they are taken out of here. Do you recall reading about the death of Stephen? That seemed to be a defeat for the church (see Acts 8), but it resulted in some great blessings for Stephen and victories for the Lord.

Question: What does Stephen's name mean? It means “a crown” and that's exactly what Stephen gained, the crown of life, because he remained faithful to Jesus unto death (Rev. 2:10).

In Acts chapters 1–7 have described the “Period of Testing,” during which the kingdom was offered to Israel for the third time. Chapters 8–12 describe the “Period of Transition” during which the following changes take place:

(1) The center of activity moves from Jerusalem up to Antioch.

(2) The message goes from the Jews evern to the Samaritans and then to Gentiles.

(3) Peter’s activities assume less importance as Paul more and more becomes leader.

(4) The so called communism of the “kingdom economy” is replaced by the activity of the church. The church had been in existence since Pentecost, but its meaning and place in God’s world-wide program were now revealed through Paul’s ministry of grace.

(5) The Gospel of the kingdom is replaced by the Gospel of the God's grace.

Wherever the believers went in the days of the early church, they cared for people and shared the gospel with them. Many hearers trusted the Savior who cares (Acts 8:1–7; 11:19). Stephen’s life and his verbal witness too, made a tremendous impression on persecutor Saul as well as others -- he was instrumental in Saul's conversion (see 22:20).

Please never stop caring and sharing the gospel. Never give up on walking with Jesus even when the enemy seems to be winning. It may be your finest hour of victory.

Like Stephen, Philip was a caring person. He was a deacon who cared for saints and sinners alike; he was also an evangelist; and the God who cares led him to witness in love to people living in Samaria. They had been hostile to the Jews before (see John 4:9).

God allows persecution. It is an opportunity for effective service. Philip a soul-winner (Eph. 4:11), was also called to become a deacon (6:5). Like Stephen before him, Philip served the Lord and discovered spiritual gifts -- he became a mighty evangelist.

He took the Gospel to whoever would listen, just as Christ had done in John 4; and thus for the first time in Acts we see the ministry of the Word moving from Jewish territory. The persecution only opened the door for more soul-winning. What began as “great persecution” (v. 1) became “great joy” (v. 8).

The coming of Peter and John and the giving of the Holy Spirit spiritually linked the Samaritan believers to the born-again saints in Jerusalem and guess what?.. that ancient division got healed. God did that cuz that's what He does. The way to turn enemies into friends is to make them your spiritual brothers.

In times of great blessing, wherever God sows true seed, the devil and his thugs show up to sow the counterfeit (see Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43). Like Peter, we must be discerning, alert, and vigilant.

It's so beautiful to see how Philip left a great harvest to go talk to one man (listen, you are one, but you too are important to the Lord). He would have left heaven for you alone.

Caring for one person or more is the mark of a true Christian soul-winner and discipler. Do you care before you share?

You and I must give a flip and go where the Chief Shepherd leads or sends us, to say and do what God tells us to nothing more, and to then leave the results with Him. Why? Because you and I can't save anyone -- He can! He loved and won me when I was still His enemy.

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.." ~ Jesus, Mat. 5:44

"But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you," Lk. 6:27

"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil." Lk. 6:35

“I live for souls and for eternity. I want to win some soul to Christ. If you want this and work for it, eternity alone can tell the result.” ~ D.L. Moody

Every believer faces moments when their prayers seem unanswered and people—even fellow Christians—disappoint us. Yet it’s in these very seasons that the gospel shines brightest.

Paul reminds us: “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Love is not sustained by our feelings but by Christ’s unfailing love. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). God cared before He came here to share the Good News. Yes, He still cares about and for you, believer. 

When our hearts are needy, we care for others not out of emotional-surplus but out of faith in a Savior who poured Himself out for us (while we were still enemies) on Calvary's cross.

"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them." Acts 8:5

He cared before he shared. Turning an encounter into a gospel conversation doesn't really matter if we don't care about sinners in their plight.

None of it matters -- we must pray for care about people (saved and lost sinners). People can sort of feel it -- they can tell whether we really care about them or about gaining a scalp (numbers). Sure, even a cat or dog can tell. Sinners know whether we’re caring or merely sharing with them merely out of duty or sincerity.

Are you needy or hurting today? Pray earnestly (with the correct address attached).

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise." James 5:13

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray." kjv

People who earnestly pray to God have a readiness inside to act upon the divine promptings of the Holy Spirit! That was Philip--he had a heart for nonbelievers.

We read in the book of Acts that Philip, along with Stephen and others, were called to be deacons in the church. They cared. Stephen loved the Lord most and was martyred. Yes, Saul of Tarsus began to attack Christians, so they started spreading out.

So where did Philip go? He went to Samaria. That is interesting cuz Philip was a Jew and typically Jews hated the Samaritans. Typically, the Samaritans hated the Jews as well.

It had been an ongoing conflict without a solution up to that point. The tension and hard feelings were passed down from generation to generation.

Yet Philip didn't care about that, He obeyed and went to Samaria. A Jew wouldn't even start a conversation with them, much less want to reach them.

Do you want to be an effective communicator of the Good News. Then you need to care about what God cares about. People. We all need to care and be willing to go to people who look and are different from us.

We tend to want to hang around people look like us, who think like us, who are just like us--people who like us, talk like us, and have common interests with us.

Are they ill-informed, or misinformed, or uninformed of what's so? Pray and be willing to ditch all that to a different people group with the message of the gospel! Intercede and gain a real empathy, a compassion, for lost people in their plight.

Everyone everywhere needs the Jesus of the Bible. You can give a flip. Let God care through you.

You can show love beyond your own strength! Corrie ten Boom long endured betrayal in a concentration camp. 

She said, “When I cannot pray, I never cease to trust.” 

Amy Carmichael penned really helpful words. She was bedridden for decades and said: “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” 

Their caring outreach was not from feeling comforted, but from crucified love. It came from Jesus. 

You and I run out, but the Spirit of Jesus can refill us. 

George Barna reports that three in four non-Christians are more moved by Christians’ acts of kindness than by formal preaching. Gallup found that those who serve others weekly report greater resilience and joy, even when they themselves feel overlooked. The gospel often travels furthest not through pulpits, but through open hands.

Think of it this way: when you bring groceries to a struggling neighbor, listen patiently to a weary coworker, or pray with someone in the hospital—even while you yourself are hurting—you become a living testimony of Christ’s love. This is Matthew 25 in action: “As you did it to one of the least of these.. you did it to me” (v. 40).

Believers here and there may let us down (we're all flawed), but Christ never does. He never leaves or forsakes us. God in Hebrews 6:10 promises us, “God is not unjust to forget your work and the love you have shown for His name in serving the saints.” 

Every unseen caring act of a believer is logged in heaven’s record.

So when you feel forgotten or uncared for, remember: your ministry never has to be diminished. It may be refined by God. You can still care with His love inside. You can live the life and still go share, yes, still verbally witness—not because your tank seems full, but because God gives free refills. His grace never runs dry.

* Classic Evangelical Voices with Scripture

• Spurgeon: “When we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”
  → Proverbs 3:5–6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

• D. L. Moody: “Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible; the other 99 will read the Christian.”
  → 2 Corinthians 3:2–3 – “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.”

• John Wesley: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can…”
  → Galatians 6:10 – “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

• A. W. Tozer: “The true test of a spiritual man is not how much he loves in return, but how much he loves when he is not loved in return.”
  → Luke 6:32–33 – “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?… But if you do good to those who do not love you, what benefit is that to you?”

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* 20th Century Evangelicals with Scripture

• Corrie ten Boom: “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”
  → Romans 8:38–39 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• Billy Graham: “The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service.”
  → Romans 12:1 – “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

• Elisabeth Elliot: “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”
  → Philippians 4:11–13 – “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content… I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

• Vance Havner: “The measure of a man’s greatness is not the number of servants he has, but the number of people he serves.”
  → Mark 10:43–45 – “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant… For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

• Oswald Chambers: “It is the most natural thing to be like Christ; it is a supernatural thing that makes us like Him.”
  → John 15:4–5 – “Abide in me, and I in you… apart from me you can do nothing.”

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* Contemporary Evangelical Voices with Scripture

• John Piper: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him—even in our suffering.”
  → Habakkuk 3:17–18 – “Though the fig tree should not blossom… yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

• Tim Keller: “You don’t really know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”
  → Psalm 73:25–26 – “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

• David Jeremiah: “When you are filled with the Spirit, you’ll be more concerned about the needs of others than your own.”
  → Philippians 2:3–4 – “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

• Alistair Begg: “The work of the gospel is not a call to self-preoccupation, but to self-denial.”
  → Luke 9:23 – “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

• Joni Eareckson Tada: “The weaker we feel, the harder we lean on God. The harder we lean, the stronger we grow.”
  → 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Our Duty? It's To Love The Lord And Others By Faith ..Even When The Emotions Falter Or The Feelings Fail

Need some fellowship and times of freedom from your employment? Sometimes people are absent or let you down. Sometimes employers demand more than you can give and it wears on you. 

There are seasons in every Christian’s life when God in heaven seems pretty silent, and prayers seem unanswered in the affirmative. There are times when the soul feels barren, like in a spiritual desert of sorts. 

In those moments, the temptation is to retreat into ourselves for self, to measure God’s faithfulness by our own emotions. Yet Scripture reminds us that we are to walk by faith not by circumstances.. to walk in the pure Light of the Living Word, walk in Love, and not be rooted in feelings. Yes, but walk in faith step by step daily. “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The same faith that saves us also empowers us to love others—even when our hearts feel empty.

Corrie ten Boom once said, “When I cannot pray, I never cease to trust.” Likewise, when we cannot feel, we must never cease to love. Faith chooses what flesh resists. It chooses to care for others even when we ourselves feel uncared for. This is the pattern of Christ Himself: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Love flowed from Him not because He was applauded, but because He was anchored in the Father’s will.

Sociologists at Barna have found that more than 70% of people outside the church decide their openness to faith based not on sermons but on how Christians live and love. In other words, our witness is often strongest in our unseen choices: the kindness given when weary, the listening ear when our own prayers seem unheard. These acts of faith preach a gospel louder than words.

Consider the widow who once slipped an anonymous grocery card into her struggling neighbor’s mailbox. She had no pulpit, no microphone—just faith expressing itself through love. Months later that neighbor confessed, “Your kindness made me believe God had not forgotten me.” Such moments prove that ministry is not confined to church platforms; it is written in the quiet margins of daily life.

When you feel stripped of strength, remember the hymn: “Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come.” Love is not the overflow of emotions; it is the outflow of Christ in us. Paul urged, “Let us not grow weary in doing good” (Galatians 6:9). Sometimes love looks like holding on, showing up, and serving quietly while God writes stories through us we may never see.

Your witness does not require eloquence. It requires endurance. Your ministry does not depend on open doors to preach, but on open hands to serve. Even when emotions falter, faith can whisper: “Lord, I will love because You first loved me. I will care because You care. I will sow seed, even if I see no harvest today.”

In a culture that often equates authenticity with feelings, the church must rediscover the radical authenticity of obedience. To love when you don’t feel like it, to serve when your soul aches, to care when you yourself need care—this is love refined by fire, and it bears eternal fruit.

Need an easy-to-use table of the “Top Biblical Gospel-Servants,” showing their own struggles, and faithful acts? Need some “Practical Takeaways” column for modern believers—showing how to emulate these biblical servants even when discouraged, weary, or emotionally dry:

#	Biblical Figure	Struggle / Hardship	Act of Faith / Caring	Christ-Centered Lesson	Practical Takeaways
1	Moses	Overwhelmed by rebellious, complaining Israel	Interceded for the people (Ex. 32:11–14)	Leadership is faithful love even when discouraged; points to Christ’s intercession for us (Heb. 7:25)	Pray persistently for those you lead, even when frustrated; choose to advocate for others rather than react in anger
2	Joseph	Betrayed, enslaved, imprisoned	Forgave and provided for Egypt and family (Gen. 41:39–44)	Love and service in adversity reflect God’s sovereign provision; prefigures Christ’s mercy	Serve others generously and forgive past hurts; trust God to use your circumstances for good
3	Daniel	Facing exile, pressure to compromise	Prayed faithfully and served in government (Dan. 1:8–20; 6:10–11)	Faithful witness requires courage and trust in God’s sovereignty, like Jesus obeying the Father	Maintain integrity and faith in the workplace or community; serve consistently even under pressure
4	Esther	Risked life before the king	Advocated for her people (Esther 4:14)	Bold intervention for others mirrors Christ’s sacrificial advocacy for humanity	Take courageous steps to help others even when it feels risky; trust God’s timing and purpose
5	Jeremiah	Emotional despair, persecution	Proclaimed God’s word faithfully (Jer. 20:7–9)	Persistent truth-telling despite pain points to Christ, the ultimate prophet and suffering servant	Speak or act in truth even when discouraged; let God’s calling guide your voice more than circumstances
6	Paul	Imprisonment, beatings, rejection	Preached and cared for churches (2 Cor. 11:23–28; Rom. 1:14–16)	Obedient service despite suffering mirrors Christ’s mission-focused endurance	Share faith and serve others even when tired or unappreciated; rely on God’s strength, not your emotions
7	Peter	Fear, denial of Christ	Boldly preached, healed, and led (Acts 3:1–10; Acts 4:13–20)	Faithful action after failure reflects Christ’s restoring grace	Move forward in ministry even after past failures; let God’s forgiveness empower your service
8	Barnabas	Supporting overlooked or feared believers	Encouraged Paul and gave generously (Acts 4:36–37; 9:26–27)	Christ-like encouragement empowers others to serve and witness faithfully	Encourage and mentor others quietly; sometimes your support is your witness more than preaching
9	Philip the Evangelist	Uncertainty, new cultures	Shared the gospel with the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26–40)	Obedience in unlikely situations reflects Christ reaching out to the marginalized	Be open to unexpected opportunities to share Christ; serve in unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations
10	Jesus Christ	Emotional weariness, rejection, impending death	Ministered, healed, taught, and loved sacrificially (Matt. 14:14; John 13:1–5; Luke 19:41–44)	The ultimate model: perfect love, care, and selfless service, even in exhaustion and sorrow	Follow Christ’s example by loving even when drained; let compassion guide actions more than emotions; rely on God’s strength

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Here you go! Need a real-world application table? 

A believer can see not only the biblical pattern (See the whole context, please) but how to live it out even during times of emotional or spiritual dryness.

Takeaways

1. Faith loves when feelings fail.

2. Obedience outlasts emotion; Christ’s cross proves it.

3. The world sees Christ not in our comfort but in our costly care.

4. Ministry is less about open pulpits and more about open hearts.

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* Bible Verses (See context areas. ESV unless noted)

• 2 Corinthians 5:7 – Again, “..we walk by faith, not by sight.”

• 1 John 4:19 – “We love because He first loved us.”

• Galatians 6:9–10 – “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.”

• Philippians 2:3–4 – “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

• Romans 12:20–21 – “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

• Matthew 25:40 – “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

• Hebrews 6:10 – “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do.”

Quotes

• Corrie ten Boom: “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”

• Charles Spurgeon: “Faith is the fountain, the foundation, and the fosterer of obedience.”

• Amy Carmichael: “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”

• George Müller: “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible… Faith begins where man’s power ends.”

• Andrew Murray: “Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation.”

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* Want Some Statistics?

• According to George Barna (2023) – 3 in 4 non-Christians say they are more impacted by Christians’ actions of kindness and care than by formal preaching.

• Pew Research (2021) – Nearly 65% of practicing Christians reported that the most influential factor in their faith journey was seeing another believer live out genuine love and care.

• Barna (2019) – Only 29% of practicing Christians feel they are “emotionally cared for” by their church regularly, yet the same group overwhelmingly affirmed that serving others deepened their own faith.

• Gallup (2020) – People who volunteer or serve others at least once a week report higher life satisfaction and resilience, even in seasons when they feel personally neglected.

Old Testament Examples

1. Moses – Led Israel for 40 years through rebellion, complaints, and exhaustion, yet interceded and cared for the people:

   • Exodus 32:11–14 – Interceded for Israel after the golden calf incident, pleading with God to spare them.

   • Numbers 11:10–15 – Expressed weariness, but continued to lead and care for the people.

2. Joseph – Betrayed, enslaved, and imprisoned, yet served faithfully and cared for others:

   • Genesis 39:7–21 – Refused sin, yet continued faithful in Pharaoh’s house.

   • Genesis 41:39–44 – Managed Egypt’s famine relief, saving nations including his own family.

3. Daniel – Lived faithfully under a pagan king, sharing God’s wisdom and witness, even under threat:

   • Daniel 6:10–11 – Prayed faithfully despite the law against it.

   • Daniel 1:8–20 – Served and influenced the court even when tempted to compromise.

4. Esther – Risked her life to care for her people and speak truth:

   • Esther 4:14 – “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

5. Prophet Jeremiah – Known as the “weeping prophet,” he ministered faithfully even when discouraged:

   • Jeremiah 20:7–9 – Felt overwhelmed, yet could not keep silent about God’s word.

   • Jeremiah 1:17–19 – Called to speak God’s truth despite persecution.

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New Testament Examples

1. Paul – Wrote much of the New Testament while enduring imprisonment, beatings, and rejection:

   • 2 Corinthians 11:23–28 – Describes suffering, yet he continued to care and teach.

   • Romans 1:14–16 – Felt compelled to preach the gospel to all nations despite hardship.

2. Peter – Fearful and hesitant at times, yet became bold in caring and preaching:

   • Acts 3:1–10 – Healed the lame man at the temple.

   • Acts 4:13–20 – Boldly shared Christ even when threatened.

3. Barnabas – Encouraged and supported others even when unrecognized:

   • Acts 4:36–37 – Sold land to support the needy.

   • Acts 9:26–27 – Introduced Paul to the apostles when others feared him.

4. Philip the Evangelist – Carried the gospel into uncertain situations:

   • Acts 8:26–40 – Shared Christ with the Ethiopian eunuch, even in unexpected circumstances.

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Jesus Christ - Our Supreme Caring Example 

• Compassion and Care:

  • Matthew 14:14 – “When He went ashore, He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

  • Mark 6:34 – “He saw the people and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”

• Serving Despite Weariness:

  • John 4:6–7 – Tired from travel, yet ministered to the Samaritan woman at the well.

  • Luke 19:41–44 – Wept over Jerusalem while continuing His mission.

• Teaching and Giving Life:

  • John 13:1–5 – Was fully aware of His impending death, yet washed His disciples’ feet.

  • Matthew 23:37 – Desired to gather and care for His people, even when they resisted.