In the small mountain community where I live during the summer, there are hundreds of children who don't have adequate food at home. In response, two faithful young women founded Backpack Snacks. On Friday, each of the identified children receives a backpack loaded with food that is easily prepared. On Monday, they return the empty backpack; it's refilled for the next weekend.

Three of the chapels in the summer resort ministry that I coordinate donate food and money to Backpack Snacks. I collect and deliver these donations to one of the ladies. One delivery occurred in the middle of a hard downpour. I arrived about ten minutes after it started. As I sat there waiting, I asked God for a small window of no rain while we were transferring the items from one car to another. Not really believing that it would happen, I waited. Just before she drove up beside my car, the rain lessened to just a few drops here and there. As soon as I jumped back in my car, the downpour began again.

Does God care about small things like that? It wouldn't have hurt us to get wet, but then, the food goods would have been soaked as well.

Luke 12:6-7 – Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (NIV)

Jesus' life demonstrated God's care for small things that others didn't think were important. He recognized children when the disciples didn't regard them as important enough for Jesus' attention, and He took them in His arms and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16) He healed the woman with an issue of blood who touched His garment, a person who would be regarded as unclean, as He was on His way to heal the daughter of the important ruler of the synagogue. (Luke 8:40-48) As He was being arrested and on His way to the cross, He took the time to restore the ear of the high priest's servant that Peter had sliced off. (Luke 22:49-51)

Paul tells us, "Never stop praying." (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT) Why would he encourage us to do that if God doesn't care about all our needs, big or small? Our God is big enough and loves us enough to meet even our smallest needs.

Ephesians 3:18,20 – And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (NLT)

This is our challenge: to understand the depth and riches of God's love for us and to trust Him to meet our needs, large or small.

Prayer: Father, You show us Your love in so many ways. Give us the faith to trust You for our needs. Help us to fully understand Your power and glory at work in our lives. Amen.

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About the author:

Sharon Cook <craftercook@gmail.com>
Apache Junction, Arizona, USA
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