God cares

Cleaning out our home office over the weekend, I came across a photo that brough back a rush of memories. My husband and I went on an international mission trip with our church the year after we married. The purpose of the trip was to share the love of Christ with children in Guatemala through the means of delivering new shoes.   

I felt helpless most of the week as I was unable to communicate with the little people we served. I prayed that somehow they would understand they were receiving new shoes out of God’s love. Although we wouldn’t be exchanging names or words, I prayed they would know God loved and greatly cared for them.  

The task each day was simple. Pick up a pair of pre-assigned shoes, wait to be paired up with the matching child, wash their feet, and help them try on their new shoes. I was shocked by the number of children who wore shoes that were many sizes too small, had toes cut out, or had holes through the entire sole. These children were in dire need of shoes, and each child was grateful not only for the shoes they received but valued the worn pair that had been seeing them through.

One afternoon, I received a pair of pink princess shoes to give to a little girl. I readied my wash cloth to clean off her little feet. The translator ushered a small girl my way, and as she walked closer a lump formed in my throat.

On the front of her shirt was a picture of princesses - the exact same princesses that were on the sides of the new shoes that had been selected, by a volunteer, for her to receive. Shoes that someone, somewhere, in America bought in the exact size she needed. I pointed to her shirt and to the shoes and back again and a smile crossed her face. I don’t know if she fully understood the great amount of love and care God was showing her in that moment, but it certainly wasn’t lost on me.  

God knows your heart. He knows it better than you do. And you may think that the details don’t matter to God. They seem so small compared to the travesties occurring all over the world and you assume surely God doesn’t have time to tend to such things.

But God cares.

1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

And He does. The perfectly timed song that played on the radio the minute you started the car. The Bible verse that keeps popping up in unusual places. The kindness of the stranger who purchased your drink. The unexpected note or call from your friend when you needed it the most.

God is in the details, my friend, and He cares greatly for you.