I brought my Bible to my desktop computer yesterday to respond to a message a woman had sent me, someone I had recently connected with through e-mail. She’s a very grounded woman who obviously loves the Lord and yet, she made a comment that surprised me. She said that after reading something I had written, she had concluded that God really was involved in her life, something she had to keep telling herself because she often felt insignificant and unimportant in His eyes.
My heart reacted immediately, wanting to assure her from God’s Word that she absolutely was significant and important to God. But as I drafted the reply, it hit me that she was not isolated in her concerns. I’m sure many of us have those moments. When we’re in high spirits, we’re certain that God is with us, ordering our steps, powering our lives, making Himself known in the little things. But when we’re in a low moment, we may wonder, “Do I really matter? Does God really care what’s going on with me?”
It’s in those low moments especially when we have to walk by faith. The question I like to ask myself in those times is, “What do you know?” and by that I mean, “What does the Bible have to say about the issue?” On this issue, the Bible is very clear—we are of great value to God.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God” (Luke 12:6). In Jesus’ day, one cent was the smallest coin in circulation, as in our own economy. Two cents would buy five sparrows, showing how little these birds were regarded. And yet, not one of those insignificant little birds was forgotten by God. Not one. Jesus went even further, explaining that God is so involved in the life of an insignificant sparrow that “not one of them will fall to the ground” apart from His will (Matthew 10:29). Not one.
What’s awesome is that Jesus was imparting this truth to show that if a sparrow matters that much to God, we can be certain that He is taking great care over each of our lives, for we are of much more value than a sparrow. To emphasize the point, Jesus said, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7).
Allow that to sink in. God is so intimately acquainted with you, so interested in every aspect of you, that He knows how many hairs are on your head.
If God cares about such an inconsequential detail as that, we can be sure that He cares about the day-to-day happenings in our lives. If He cares about one sparrow falling to the ground, He cares when our spirits are fallen. Not one of us escapes His notice. Not one.
When we consider the majesty and power of God, His work in creation, the heavens, the moon, and the stars, we may think of ourselves as small and insignificant. When we consider our circumstances, those times when nothing is as we hoped and we wonder why God hasn’t shown up, we may think we’re unimportant. But we must dwell on what we know.
To my friend who inspired this devotion and to every one who needs to be encouraged, God is right this moment involved in your life, even as you read this. He directed you to it. He wanted you to know the truth, that the true and living God, the Most High, the sovereign Lord of the Universe thinks you are significant and important. He cares about your every mood, your every step, your every coming and going. He loves you.
Father, it boggles my mind that You would take such notice of me as to know the number of hairs on my head. Write that truth on my heart, O God, that I am valuable to You, that You care. I pray that You would remind me in the low moments that You have Your eye on me and I am in Your sovereign care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
