"'TLC': God's Tender Loving CARE"

Ps. 103:13, NIRV

    There is an especially lovely trio of phrases in the Bible: tender

mercy, loving-kindness, and care.  Taken together this trio

speaks eloquently of God’s Tender Loving Care: TLC in modern

terms.  Sometimes the first two phrases--tender mercy and

loving-kindness--are paired in scripture.  Meanwhile, the third--

“care”--is often implied in the same texts.  For example: “Hear

and answer me, O Lord, for Your loving-kindness is sweet

and comforting; according to Your plenteous tender

mercy and steadfast love turn to me"; Ps. 69:16, AMPC. 

(Also see Ps. 25:6; 51:1; 119:77, 156; 40:11; 103:2-4.[1]) 

    Today we will look at just one part of this trio, focusing especially upon

that very simple word: “care.”   We also recount an especially moving

story about God’s care.  (Note: we  discussed God’s TLC in the form of

“tender mercies” in an earlier post.  Loving-kindness appears there

as well and will be further considered in the next post.[2])

    Before considering our story about God’s care, we look at several striking

passages about God’s loving care for us . . . if only we are willing to learn to

abide in God’s presence. [3]  

Note the words “take[s] care" in the passages that follows (italics added):

Psalm 3:3-5: “LORD, you are like a shield that keeps me safe. . . .   I call out
to the LORD. He answers me from his holy mountain.  I lie down and
sleep. I wake up again, because the LORD takes care of me” (NIRV).

                         

Psalm 8:3-5: Lord, “I look at your heavens, which you made with [the work
of] your fingers.  I see the moon and stars, which you created. . . .  But why
are people even important to you [ . . .  that you remember them]?  Why do
you take care of human beings . . . ?  You made them a little lower than the
angels . . . and crowned them with glory and honor . . .” (EXB).  (Also see this
passage re-quoted in Heb. 2:6-8, EXB; where we are also assured of God’s
continuing “care for/about” God’s children.)

    And the loveliest passage of all comes from Jesus’ words:

“Look at the birds in the sky!  They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t

even store grain in barns.  Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them.  

Aren’t you worth more than birds?”; Mt. 6:26 (CEV).                               

     We turn next to a marvelous biblical story about God’s loving care.  It is the story of the young man Joseph, who was sold into slavery in Egypt.  (Perhaps you know the story from the popular musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.[4])  “God’s TLC here?” the reader might ask.  “Really?  For a man sold into slavery?”

     Yes!  But admittedly the TLC comes through between the lines of the story--and sometimes in the long run.  This is best seen if we begin at the end of the story.  Before his death (after a long life and after Joseph had, in effect, been a governor of Egypt) Joseph addresses his family: “Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up . . . to the land which He promised. . . .  God will surely take care of you . . .’”; Gen. 50:24-25, NASB.   Joseph had learned such certainty at a practical level--through a long life of living in God’s care.

     We go back now to the very beginning of the story to watch as God’s care slowly unfolds--in spite of Joseph’s many difficulties.  (And Joseph indeed experienced difficulties, for he lived in the real world, which has often chosen to live in a “far country” spiritually; i.e., rejecting God’s care.  See later discussion in this regard).  

     Joseph, a son of the Hebrew people, is a favorite son of his father Jacob.  Joseph has a number of half brothers who are jealous of him, especially after the father gives Joseph a beautiful multi-colored coat or a “technicolor dreamcoat” as it is known today.  (See Gen. 37 for the original story.)  

     The brothers also become jealous when Joseph—unwisely—tells them about two strange (but ultimately prophetic) dreams that he had.  In the first dream the brothers are together in a wheat field.  Joseph’s brothers’ sheaves of wheat bow to Joseph’s sheaf.  In a second dream it seems that the brothers’ stars in heaven bow to Joseph’s star.  (Greater maturity might have taught Joseph that sometimes the Spirit’s messages to us need to be guarded patiently, inwardly, and carefully.)  

     The brothers become so jealous after hearing these dreams that they plot to kill Joseph.  However, a kinder older brother intervenes, in part.  In the end Joseph is sold instead as a slave to a caravan on its way to Egypt.

     In Egypt Joseph is purchased by an Egyptian official named Potiphar, who serves the Pharaoh (or emperor).  Potiphar soon sees that Joseph is faithful, trustworthy, and seems to be blessed by his God.  Although still a slave, Potiphar elevates Joseph to be overseer of his house.  

     Meanwhile, Joseph (apparently a very appealing young man) also catches the attention of Potiphar’s wife and her wandering eye.  She attempts to seduce him, but Joseph resists persistently.  Joseph speaks of the trust that his master and God have placed in him.  In one instance, as Joseph flees from Potiphar’s wife, she catches hold of one of his garments.  Incensed by Joseph’s rejection of her advances, she uses the garment to pretend that she has proof of Joseph’s advances to her!  Unjustly, Joseph lands in Pharaoh’s prison.   

     But God is still with Joseph.  Note the TLC in this passage:  “But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy and loving-kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison” (Gen. 39:21, AMPC).

     Not only does Joseph find favor in the eyes of the warden but, once again because of his trustworthiness, he is eventually entrusted with responsibility.  While still a prisoner and slave, he becomes overseer of the prison.  

     It happens then that the chief baker and cup-bearer from the court of Pharaoh fall under suspicion and are imprisoned.  One night each of these men has a very odd--yet memorable--dream, which they later recount to Joseph.  God grants Joseph intuitions about what the dreams mean.  Joseph’s interpretations will ultimately prove correct.  Not long after this the baker is hung, but the cup-bearer is released to return to Pharaoh’s court (as the dreams had suggested).

     The cup-bearer goes back into Pharaoh’s service and soon forgets about Joseph.  Then after some time Pharaoh, as well, has two strange dreams, which similarly haunt him.  He consults various counselors of the day, but no one can unlock the meaning of the two dreams.  It is then that the cup-bearer finally remembers Joseph and his correct foretelling of those two dreams in prison. 

     Joseph is called to Pharaoh, who says that he had been told that Joseph has the ability to interpret dreams.  Having learned by then of his own limitations, Joseph responds with humility: “It is beyond my power to do this. . . .   But God can tell you what it [all] means and set you at ease”; Gen. 41:16, NLT.  (Note that Joseph’s humility here shows his general attitude toward God.  He knows he is special.  Yet he also understands by now that he is special simply because every child of God is special to God and because--as we will see with utter clarity in the New Testament--everything is based upon God’s Grace[5]: Grace that Joseph seems to have embraced intuitively.)

     Pharaoh tells his dreams to Joseph, and again God grants Joseph correct insights about them.  Joseph sees that the dreams point to seven years of plenty and then, alarmingly, to seven years of famine to follow.   

     Pharaoh notes that the spirit of God is with Joseph and puts him in charge of preparations that will carry the nation from plenty to survival during a long famine.  Joseph again proves to be an able administrator (with God’s help) and is made a virtual governor of Egypt, second in command only to Pharaoh (Gen. 41).

     The years pass as Joseph foretold.  Then one day in the midst of great famine, to Joseph’s utter astonishment, he sees that his very own brothers have come to Egypt to purchase much needed grain.  With great emotion he recognizes them immediately, but they do not recognize him in his lofty position.  

     Joseph sets out to carefully test his brothers to see if their hearts have changed--have softened.  (Sometimes it almost seems as if we, too, go through times that might feel almost  like a test.  Do our hearts soften at such times?  Do we cling to God as Joseph did--and as his brothers were finally learning to do?)

     Joseph finds that his brothers have, indeed, changed; their hearts have softened.  He even overhears his brothers regretfully recalling the harm they had done so long before to their own brother Joseph.  

     Some time after, in kindness and tears, Joseph confesses that he is in fact their long lost brother.  He also—eventually—sets the entire situation in context.  (Here we see the kind of trust in God that has carried Joseph through all along.)  Joseph explains: “You planned something bad for me, but God produced something good from it, in order to save the lives of many people, just as he’s doing today” (Gen. 50:20, CEB).  

     (In this regard also note Romans 8:28, which rings with a similar idea: “We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan”; Voice trans.  These promises are also great promises to us!  As Julian of Norwich says, our God is the great God of “again-making”![6])

     Note that scripture passages such as these don’t mean that everything that happens in this world (which is often indifferent or passively-aggressively hostile to God) is good.  (See earlier posts in this regard.[7])  Joseph lived in the real world just as we do, and life wasn’t always easy for him.  Instead such passages mean that God is a God of transformation and renewal, who can pick events up and turn them around to an ultimate good in the lives of those who abide in God’s caring love.  (Note that Joseph did not run off to a “far country” spiritually, as discussed previously[8] —in spite of being in a “far country” in reality.)

     In an expanded paraphrase of Genesis 50:20 we see how Cod’s care and renewal would also come to Joseph’s brothers, who now have softened hearts :

Joseph replied to his brothers, “‘Don’t be afraid.  Do I act [presumptively] for God?  Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people.  Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I’ll take care of you and your children.’  He reassures them, speaking with them heart-to-heart”; Gen. 50:20, MSG.   

    Again, note the words take care in this passage.  After long years of living in God’s tender loving care, Joseph is able to see God’s great, transformative silver linings in life’s gray clouds.  Joseph is also able to forgive, to let go, to trust God wholly, and to promise that he will pass God’s loving care on to others--just as God calls each of us to do daily in our own lives.  (Note the movement here: Joseph’s experience of God’s TLC helps him to pass it on.  So, too, we meditate upon God’s TLC and stories like Joseph’s.  As God’s TLC forms a deeper and deeper place in our lives we come to know this love interiorly; then we will be more enabled to help others--i.e., to pass it on.  The fruit of all of this in Joseph’s life was that “God used those same plans for my good . . . [and] life for many people.”)

     (We pause here to say that this entire story has deep personal meaning for us.  Once someone also “planned evil against . . . [us] but God [in the long run] used those same plans for . . . good,” just as in Joseph’s words.  So we are sharing a story here that has resonance for us; it is not something we simply picked at random.  We only wish our faith had always been as steady as Joseph’s.)

     Soon Joseph’s entire family journeyed to Egypt where grain was plentiful.  This  included his aged father Jacob.  Before his death in Egypt, Jacob summed up much of this entire story and the faithful care of God that had been present all along: 

Joseph is a fruitful vine that grows a lot of fruit.  It grows close by a spring.  Its branches climb over a wall.  Mean people shot arrows at him.  They shot at him because they were angry.  But his bow remained steady. . . .  The hand of the Mighty God of Jacob was with him.  The Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, stood by him.  Joseph, your father’s God helps you. . . .   He gives you blessings from the sky above.  He gives you blessings from the deep springs below. . . .  [Blessings] greater than the gifts from the ancient hills; Gen. 49: 22-26, NIRV.  

(Note that “helps you” [italics added] is similar to “takes care.”  And “close by a spring” or  “deep springs below” shows that Joseph knew the wisdom of renewing oneself through continually turning to the living waters of life that only God can give--waters that God in Grace freely gives to those who are wise enough simply to seek such living waters.[9]) 

     We conclude the story of Joseph’s life with biblical passages that

speak of the kind of faith Joseph had learned through the many ups

and downs of life.  Although Joseph could not know the specific

words of the beautiful promises that follow (for they were given after

his time), he certainly intuited them in his faith and trust in a God

of Tender Loving Care:

  

“The LORD your God is tender and loving” (Duet. 4:31, NIRV).

“I lift my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?  My help comes from the LORD. . . .  He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. . . . The LORD is your keeper . . .  your shade at your right hand. . . .  The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore” (Ps. 121:1-8, NRSV).  (Note that “keeps you” [italics added] is similar to “takes care.”)

“And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” (Jesus,

Mt. 28:20, NJB).

     

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7, NIV).

“The LORD is holy and kind. Our God is full of tender love. The LORD

takes care of those who are not aware of danger. When I was in great 

need, he saved me” (Ps. 116:5-6, NIRV).

“A father is tender and kind to his children. In the same way, the LORD

is tender and kind to those who have respect for him” (Ps. 103:13, NIRV).

Jesus' words in John 14:26 (AMP), as he promises the coming of the Holy
Spirit after his death and resurrection[10] (presented here as a meditation):

    Next, we turn to words that surely show the kind of wisdom Joseph had

learned: wisdom about how to walk through any circumstances, choosing to

cling steadfastly to a caring God:

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out

everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do,

everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track

(Prov. 3:5-6, MSG).

    And finally, our guess is that when Joseph was in slavery and prison his

prayers were something like this (a prayer that includes the entire biblical trio

of TLC introduced above—with care strongly implied): 

“Hear and answer me, O Lord, for Your loving-kindness is sweet and
comforting; according to Your plenteous tender mercy and steadfast love
turn to me” (Ps. 69:16, AMPC).

* * *

We close with thoughts for meditation, prayer/poetry/proverbs:

                   

“Quiet Moment (in Prayer)” 

                 

      Similarly, Catherine Booth (co-founder of The Salvation Army) tells us

her secret in one especially nerve-wracking situation: "[I]f any mortal ever

did hang onto the arm of Omnipotence, I did."[11]

* * *

An opening to prayer/meditation (with lakeside imagery):  

     (This meditation can be used in times of stress.

Joseph surely knew such times!)

                         

“Let it go!  Let it go!” 

Shhh! Shhh!  Silently,

so simply: “Let . . . it . . . go!”                            

The waves rock the words--   

wash them to and fro,

sift them through my brain,

warm me in their flow.

                             

Perhaps God’s greatest lullaby

is: Shhh . . . my child!  Relax now!  

You can “Let it go!”

I know it all--all your cares.

Let the waves teach you                                    

that you can “Let it go.”         

Let the waves instruct you                                                          

that you MUST “Let it go!”

                             

"Let go . . . let God"!:                              

The greatest "wisdom"

of all. [12]   

                                

         (With reflection upon Ps. 55:22, 46:10, 127:2; Mt. 11:28;

1 Pet. 5:7.  Regarding the “MUST,” as  “Twelve Steps” groups

such as AA teach us: “Let go . . . let God!” may take repeated

prayers, but it is the way to health, peace, freedom of spirit, and

newness of life.[13])    

* * *

A prayer of focus:

 (With reflection upon Ps. 23; Deut. 33:27; Isa. 54:8, ASV.) 

* * *

An opening to prayer/meditation:

  
(See the “beloved” of  Ps. 127:2; Rom. 9:25; Duet. 33:12; Ps. 108:6;

1 Jn. 3:1-2, all RSV. For examples of God's parenting-heart imagery

see Isa. 49:15-16; Ps. 103:13, CEB.)  

 “And from far away the Lord appeared to his people.  He said,

‘I love you people with a love that will last forever.  I became your

friend because of my love and kindness.’” 

- Jeremiah 31:3, ICB

* * *

And finally, with reflection upon (& lessons from) two seasons:

“January Thaw (Anticipating the March Lion, Lent & Easter)”                                             

A great roar comes to whip the trees;

Tiny branches hit the ground.

It’s only January now,                               

But March lies poised in every sound.

The buds are there, though bound up tight

As sentinels of Silent Birth.

The clouds rush by; the “Lion” roars

And rolls his head in waiting mirth.      

     (With reflection upon the "March Lion" we all know, but also the

life-renewing Lion of Rev. 5:5-13. Also note Jn. 1:29.)

* * *

“YOUR Cloak . . . ?”

     Psalm 104:2-4: "The Lord wraps himself in light as if it were

a robe….  He makes the clouds serve as his chariot….  He

makes the winds serve as his messengers" (NIRV).

* * *

Perhaps some of Julian of Norwich's best instruction (although like the father in Mark 9:24, we may need to ask God to help us with our 

unbelief) [14]:

           ✫  ✵ ✯  ✧

✧ “Hastily [we] Flee ✮

from all that is not good and 

fall into our Lord’s breast, as the child

into  the  Mother’s ARM ,  with  ALL  our

intent and with all our mind, knowing our

feebleness and our great need, knowing 

God’s everlasting goodness and  . . . bliss-

ful love . . . Cleaving to God with 

 ✮ ✵  Sure [LOVE and  ✯ ✫ 

✬  sturdy] TRUST” ✧

(Also see Matt. 18:3.)

* * *

(See additional blog posts after the “Notes” in Newer/Older Posts.)

................................

Notes:

1. Especially see ASV, KJV, NKJV, WEB, AMPC, and NASB translations. Also

note “care” and “tender mercy” in 1 Pet. 5:7 and Lk. 1:78 respectively, NRSVCE,

NABRE versions; and "loving kindness" in Titus 3:4, NRSVCE or “loving-

kindness” in Lk. 1:78, The Holy Bible: Confraternity Version (Abradale Press, 1959).

The latter are Bibles in Catholic tradition. 

2. For completed discussion of the trio regarding God's TLC see “God’s Generous

‘Tender Mercies’ (Which We Withhold??)”;

https://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2016/07/gods-generous-tender-mercies-which-we.html

Also see our next post "God's 'Extra-ordinary' LOVE WORD: 'Lovingkindness'

('Chesed') & TLC";

https://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2019/06/

3. See "Can We Hinder the 'Shepherd of Love'; Can We Hinder God?";
http://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2018/08/.

4. Lyrics by Tim Rice; music by Andrew Lloyd Weber; premiere in 1970.

5. See Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 1:17, and  “Martin Luther’s Neglected Tenderness”;
http://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2015/03/martin-luthers-neglected-tenderness.html.

6. Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, ed. Grace Warrack

(London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1901, 1949), p. 23 (Chap. 10).

7. See “God’s ‘Tender Mercies’ and the World’s (Our) Pain”:
http://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2016/10/;

“The ‘Divine Romance,’ God’s Suffering, and God’s ‘Pathos’ (or ‘Wrath’?)”:
http://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2018/04/;

“The World’s Darkness, God’s Love & Julian of Norwich”:
http://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2015/11/.

8. See “The Tender ‘Love Song’ of God”;
http://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2017/02/.

9. See Jesus’ use of this metaphor, applying it to the Grace he brings:

Jn. 7:37-39; Rev. 7:17, 21:1; also see Ps. 1:3, Isa. 55:1, and Jer. 2:13.

10. John 14:26 (AMP) is placed here in shape poetry form (note:

using this form does not mean I am presenting this as poetry--

often I'd much rather call such a meditation or a prayer

when applicable).

11. Quoted in Captain Charles Smith, “‘I Want to Say a Word’ -

Catherine Booth,” The War Cry, March, 2023, p. 15 (emphasis ours).

12. Meditations, prayer/poetry/proverbs by Lorraine B. Eshleman.  

(Regarding the greatest "wisdom," see Ps. 14:2, NCB and Note 13.)

13. E.g. see a Twelve Steps sponsored article: Ann M., “Letting go of

our need for control frees us”: (Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, 1987); https://www.hazelden.org/web/public/hff11022.page.  (Note: this article, 

formerly at the above web address, is now available for purchase 

at small cost: https://www.hazelden.org/store/item/2322?Letting-Go-of-the-Need-to-Control.)

14. Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, pp. 181-182 (Chap. 74)

and Note on p. 181 (regarding "Mother's Arme" taken from the earlier

Dom Cressy translation). (Above I've blended the two translations.

“Him” changed to “God” as is common in modern usage.)