He Cares about Details

We have a long deck on our house.  Every day, twice a day, I do "deck walking" back and forth for exercise.  As I was walking one day this week, I noticed some tiny flowers on one of the potted plants on the deck.  I don't ever remember the plant blooming before.  The flowers are tiny, tiny.  At the top of this post is a picture of them.

As I looked at them, I marvelled at God's attention to detail in something so small.  It reminded me again that God is involved in and cares about the details in our lives.  I'm so grateful that I can take every care, every concern, every need to Him.  He hears my pleas and helps me.  He's never too busy.  Nothing is too insignificant to Him.

Recently I've been concerned about several things.  As I'm working on my recovery, I am trying to be careful about what I eat.  One day I realized that things were "eating me" as I carried these concerns on my heart.  I took time to one by one give my concerns - my burdens and anxieties - to Him.  It felt good to lighten the load I was carrying.  Seeing the tiny flowers was a good reminder that we serve a God who cares about details.

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved."  Psalm 55:22

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father."  Matthew 10:29

"The very hairs of your head are all numbered."  Luke 12:7

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7

The little details that we bring to the Lord are just a small part of all the great things He is doing - but they matter to Him because He cares about us.  I love the Father's caring heart for me and you! 

This week was tender for me.  Tuesday marked 5 years since Floyd became ill.  It still seems so surreal when I think it…I could never, ever have imagined what was ahead on our very "unexpected journey."

Along with caring for Floyd, I have been fighting my own battle with ovarian cancer.  But God has walked faithfully beside me each step of the way - and many friends have helped care for me.

And, of course, there has been a pandemic thrown into the mix so I spent a lot of time in isolation.  It really, really does seem like such a crazy, unbelievable journey.  I've been reflecting on it in recent days.

Recently I've been listening to a song called "You're Still God" by Philippa Hanna.  As I've been reflecting over the past 5 years, the words of this song are my anthem cry.  He's Still God!  Regardless of what has happened, what has gone wrong, what has been hard - God is still God!  He hasn't changed.  He's still on the throne.  He is still loving and faithful. He has been my "constant" in the midst of everything else that has happened.

The words of the song say it all: 

"When all foundations have been shaken
When I'm left standing in the dark
And all I feel is my heart breaking
You still reign and You're still God

And when it feels all hope has faded
The heavy questions hit so hard
And though my soul may feel forsaken
You still reign and You're still God

Though I can't see what's before me
I know that I can trust Your heart
And this one truth will be my story
You still reign and You're still God

I will declare that You are with me
Though voices whisper that You're not
You'll never leave me nor forsake me
'Cause You still reign and You're still God

And when my enemies surround me
I'll trust the victory of Your cross
And fix my eyes upon You Jesus
For You are God and I am not

You are good and You are faithful
As You have been from the start
You're working all things for Your glory
'Cause You still reign and You're still God"

One of the great blessings that has come from this time is a depth of fellowship and intimacy with the Lord beyond anything I had ever known before.  It has been a precious, sweet surprise on the journey.  In the midst of so many hard things, I had to turn to Him over and over in my weakness and ask for His grace and strength.  He has given it willingly, and has surrounded me with His love and comfort.  This has been a treasure beyond anything I could ever have imagined. 

I'm not a masochist - I haven't "enjoyed" the trials, the suffering - but I wouldn't want to go back to how it was before in my walk with the Lord!  This has been too great a treasure.  I am profoundly grateful.  God has surrounded me and carried me in ways I didn't even know were possible.

I've learned that I don't need to fear what is ahead because God is greater than anything I may face.  I don't know what's still ahead, so I cling to that truth even now!  He will faithfully be with me in whatever is still to come.  He is still God!

"Though the Lord brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love."  Lamentations 3:32

"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I hope in Him!' "  Lamentations 3:22-24

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."  Exodus 14:14

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."  Psalm 23:4

I have walked through the "valley of the shadow of death" more than once - but He has fought for me, He has kept me from falling, He has been my refuge.  His unfailing love has surrounded me.  I have not been consumed because of His compassions.  He has been so, so, so faithful!  I can't praise Him enough.

And because of the truth of God's promises, I am confident that God has been equally faithful to Floyd in his situation.  I can't wait to talk about it with him someday, and praise the Lord together.