Jesus is Attentive to the Small Things

I have a little red journal.  I have had it for 27 years. It’s not a very large book, and I perhaps make an entry twice or thrice per year. But when I do, it is to record a very specific Word God has given me, which speaks to the very real circumstances of my life. A stranger picking up the book would perhaps just see a date and quotation of Scripture, but to me it’s a diary of those moments when God ministered to me in a very intimate, relevant, direct, special and profound way.
 
Leafing through this little red book blesses me as it witnesses of God’s attentiveness to my every need-His clear presence in my life. On its pages are reminders of when God spoke peace to my heart in the midst of hurt and devastation. I am reminded of when His encouragement to me was to forgive and let go. I am reminded of His invitations to rest and of the times when I wanted to give up, but God said I needed to press on. I am reminded of the times when He gripped my heart to repent.  I am reminded of times when God assured me that I, my family and the land of my birth were valuable to Him. And of course, as I leaf through, I have the beauty only hindsight can reveal-I am able to see that holding to His Word worked out beautifully. I am able to see that He truly makes all things beautiful in their time. I am also able to see that God counts it not robbery to be present to me in the small, as in the big things.

I remember being at work, though ill with the cold, trying to persevere through evaluating a document on my table. At some point, I found my eyes closed and my thoughts directed to the pleasure of biting into an orange. Mid-thought I found myself saying a very casual one line prayer: “Jesus, what would I do for an orange now.” I would be lying if I claimed it was said with much expectation. Nevertheless, it was heartfelt. I opened my eyes and continued working, only to be greeted seconds later by my secretary, who came bearing half of a very large ortanique (which is a variety of orange that I particularly like).  She had taken it to work for herself, but felt led to share it with me at that very moment. Coincidence? No. My eyes of faith allowed me to see that Jesus was attentive to me in the small things. I accepted Jesus’ gift to me through my secretary’s generosity. It was perfect in every way. And you know what? After eating it, I was completely relieved of my cold!
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Beloved, there is no corner of your life too unremarkable for God to care about. He cares about the number of hairs on your head, while caring for the health of your soul. From the inside out; the small to the big; the mundane to the extraordinary-everything pertaining to you is important to Him.

I've often heard children of God count their every day trials as being unworthy of being placed at the feet of Jesus. Something whispers in their ears that the God of all the universe has way more important things to do. It continues to whisper, so as to persuade, that to even mention a trial beneath the status of martyrdom would be selfish. But, God cannot be preoccupied in the way human beings can. He is not suffering from attention challenges, and never worries that His energies will be spent or misspent. He is the omnipotent and self-sufficient God-and more than that He is our Father. And He has given us Jesus Christ to assure us that we may have all our needs met in Him. All. ALL. 

Read Philippians 4:6-7 & 19 and Matthew 6:25-26. Pray about the small things. He cares.

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​Go Deeper

As Be-Held Women we believe that true self-care is accomplished in a lifestyle of intimacy with Jesus Christ. We take care by drawing near to God: seeking and living the truth of God’s Word, by the power of His Spirit dwelling within us, confident that in living the truth by Holy Spirit reliance we will be transformed into women who so clearly bear the image of Jesus Christ in spirit, soul and body that we will come to bless many.  Dear Be-Held Woman, seeking, living and being transformed by the truth, we offer you this Bible study guide to support you in your endeavors! Apply it to this week's Scripture reading.

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