No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus, His Eye Is On The Sparrow, Jesus Loves Me, He Loves Us, Reckless Love — these are just some of the songs that have continued to run through my mind and comfort my soul over the past few days. They are awesome reminders of incredible truths: God sees me. He knows me. He cares for me. He loves me.
Friday night, I went to dinner and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with friends throughout the night. As I was leaving the restaurant, I saw a notebook with pages flying on the top of the minivan in front of me. I tried to get the driver’s attention. As she approached the light, the notebook flew into a small convenience store parking lot. She kept driving, and I was caught at the light. I knew I had to try to get the notebook and return it to its owner. I circled around, parked, and picked it up. I flipped through to look for any information that could help, but came up empty. I was, however, even more convinced that the notebook was definitely important to the owner.
After running a couple of errands, I decided that the best thing to do was to take the notebook back to the restaurant in hopes that its owner would retrace his or her steps. As I approached the restaurant, I saw a man searching for something on the street and under cars. I recognized him as the man who, earlier, had been intently writing at his table while waiting for his family to arrive. I rolled down my window and called him over to my car. His face lit up in amazement, and relief seemed to pour over him. He asked, “How did you know?” He then continued to tell me how I couldn’t imagine how important the notebook was. I explained how I just knew to come back to the restaurant. He thanked me, shook my hand, and I drove away.
On my drive, I became overwhelmed at how God is involved in the details of our lives. I just began thanking him for loving me enough to leave the 99, to inconvenience himself about things that might not seem important to others but mean the world to me.
It’s really overwhelming how God loves us. He gave his one and only Son for us before we even existed, in spite of our choices, knowing the torture Jesus would endure and the excruciating death he would face.
He seeks us out. He goes before us. He knows the hairs on our heads. He collects our tears. He places our steps. He never wastes a hurt. He meets us where we are. He never leaves. We just have to hold on and allow him to work. He will always trade our worst for his best. It may not be instant. It may not look the way we thought it would, but it is always best and so much better than anything we could ever do.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
— Proverbs 16:9 ESV
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
— Psalm 37:23 NIV
The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.
— Exodus 14:14 NIV
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
— Psalm 56:8–11 NLT
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
— John 3:16 ESV
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
— Luke 12:7 NIV
to grant to those who mourn in Zion; to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
— Isaiah 61:3 ESV
Psalm 139
esv.org/Psalm+139