WATCHWORD:
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7
Meditation:
NOTE – Our Meditation today was written by Pastor Peter Speckhard, St. Paul’s Lutheran, Munster, IN.
Setting aside the obvious setup of bald jokes, these words of Jesus make the point that even the tiniest details of our lives matter to God. Even the sparrows that were worth only 0.4 cents each were not forgotten by the One who made them.
While it can be comforting to know that God cares about the big things in our lives and the little things in our lives, it can also be frustrating when things don’t seem to be going well. It makes it seem like God is picking on you or else ignoring you when the little things go wrong in addition to the big things. Suddenly, minor inconveniences take on outsized importance.
We’re all told not to major in the minors, not to let little things get you down, to focus on the important things. But when the big things in life become a burden, it is usually the little things that provide the outlet for us to vent our frustrations. A kid who is having a tough time at home and in her classes and whose best friend won’t speak to her will be able to remain calm and in control. But when her locker won’t open, or she spills her milk, or some other little setback occurs, suddenly she’ll burst into tears. The sadness builds up because of the big things. But the little things bring it out.
We often feel guilty for letting little things affect us. But, hey, if God cares about every little thing, we need no excuse to care about every little thing. I teach the students that nothing is too big or too little for them to pray about. If it matters to you, it matters to God because God loves you.
In these frustrating times when people are struggling with loneliness, unemployment, illness, fear, anger, uncertainty, many people feel a sense of angst building up. And sometimes they end up snapping at something that in normal circumstances would be no big deal. This is when we need to be patient with ourselves and with others. We all can find ourselves like that young girl crying inconsolably over a stuck locker. It isn’t the locker, it is everything.
And your God cares about everything. He loves you. You’re in His hands. When something small goes wrong and you feel foolish that something that minor seems to overwhelm you, or when you encounter someone whose irritation seems out of proportion to the problem, bring into the situation the tenderness that comes from knowing a greater truth. Such Gospel knowledge is like balm on a raw wound in difficult times.
In Christ, Pastor Speckhard
Bulletin Board:
Thanks again to Pastor Speckhard for the meditation. Anyone else like to contribute to our devotionals? Please…
Closing Prayer:
Praying for Peace — God, who is more than we can ever comprehend, help us to seek you, and you alone. Help us to stand before all that we could do and seek what you would do, and do that. Lift from us our need to achieve all that we can be and instead, surrender to what you can be in us. Give us ways to refrain from the busyness that will put us on edge and off center, and give us today your peace. Amen.
