He's Into the Details

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. . . . So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. – Genesis 1:9, 21 NIV

"And God saw that it was good.” It sure is–especially when you have an oceanfront view!

Grasp that for a moment. The sea, the sand, the rocks, the birds, the fish, the waves–God made every detail. Every molecule, every grain, every crevice, feather, and gill–He made the entire scene you’re taking in. And then, He went even further: He gave us His Son, who provided a way for us to live forever.

Whew! That’s a lot to absorb. And it’s all nice, and we certainly believe all that, but some of us live on planet earth and have our daily realities to face. Realities like a lost job. Or a broken marriage. Or a failed class. Or a missed opportunity. Or…or…Yes, God may have provided the way for us to have eternal life, but what about the groceries we need for this week? the unexpected bill that came in the mail? our child’s rebellious attitude? those little, day-to-day details that nag and aggravate and weigh us down? How would He have time to deal with that and–better yet–why would He care?

From our vantage points, life can seem overwhelming and even out of control, but He who loves us with a steadfast love is as into the details of our lives as He was when He created the details of bringing together the water and the sandy shores. As Christ said in Matthew 6:26,

"... the Father knows every bird and He cares for them. How much more He cares for us as His prize creation!" (NIV)

So, have you given your details to God to figure out? Yes, He knows them already, but when we hand them over to Him, something wonderful happens. He arranges them into a bigger picture–with a broader view–to help us work our way out of our futile processes. He’s got this plan. It’s purposeful. And we may not see the bigger picture as clearly as His oceanfront views, but we can trust that He sees it, and He is working it out. And we’ll see that it, too, is good.

Lord, sometimes I forget that while You’re “up there,” You’re also “down here.” You know my needs, my cares, my desires–whether it’s for wars to end, for a way to pay the orthodontist’s bill, or for wisdom in relating to my teenager. Help me release any distrust and doubt, so that I may fully know Your love and care.

Excerpted from Devotions for the Beach by Miriam Drennan. Thomas Nelson © 2012. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson, Inc. www.thomasnelson.com.