You are Significant and Important
“Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7 (NASB)
I brought my Bible to my desktop computer yesterday to respond to a message a woman had sent me, someone I had recently connected with through e-mail. She’s a very grounded woman who obviously loves the Lord and yet, she made a comment that surprised me. She said that after reading something I had written, she had concluded that God really was involved in her life, something she had to keep telling herself because she often felt insignificant and unimportant in His eyes.
My heart reacted immediately, wanting to assure her from God’s Word that she absolutely was significant and important to God. But as I drafted the reply, it hit me that she was not isolated in her concerns. I’m sure many of us have those moments. When we’re in high spirits, we’re certain that God is with us, ordering our steps, powering our lives, making Himself known in the little things. But when we’re in a low moment, we may wonder, “Do I really matter? Does God really care what’s going on with me?”
It’s in those low moments especially when we have to walk by faith. The question I like to ask myself in those times is, “What do you know?” and by that I mean, “What does the Bible have to say about the issue?” On this issue, the Bible is very clear—we are of great value to God.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God” (Luke 12:6). In Jesus’ day, one cent was the smallest coin in circulation, as in our own economy. Two cents would buy five sparrows, showing how little these birds were regarded. And yet, not one of those insignificant little birds was forgotten by God. Not one. Jesus went even further, explaining that God is so involved in the life of an insignificant sparrow that “not one of them will fall to the ground” apart from His will (Matthew 10:29). Not one.
What’s awesome is that Jesus was imparting this truth to show that if a sparrow matters that much to God, we can be certain that He is taking great care over each of our lives, for we are of much more value than a sparrow. To emphasize the point, Jesus said, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7).
Allow that to sink in. God is so intimately acquainted with you, so interested in every aspect of you, that He knows how many hairs are on your head.
If God cares about such an inconsequential detail as that, we can be sure that He cares about the day-to-day happenings in our lives. If He cares about one sparrow falling to the ground, He cares when our spirits are fallen. Not one of us escapes His notice. Not one.
When we consider the majesty and power of God, His work in creation, the heavens, the moon, and the stars, we may think of ourselves as small and insignificant. When we consider our circumstances, those times when nothing is as we hoped and we wonder why God hasn’t shown up, we may think we’re unimportant. But we must dwell on what we know.
To my friend who inspired this devotion and to every one who needs to be encouraged, God is right this moment involved in your life, even as you read this. He directed you to it. He wanted you to know the truth, that the true and living God, the Most High, the sovereign Lord of the Universe thinks you are significant and important. He cares about your every mood, your every step, your every coming and going. He loves you.
Father, it boggles my mind that You would take such notice of me as to know the number of hairs on my head. Write that truth on my heart, O God, that I am valuable to You, that You care. I pray that You would remind me in the low moments that You have Your eye on me and I am in Your sovereign care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
[reprinted from March 30, 2008]
5 Responses to “You are Significant and Important”
Amen!
Oh yes, how easy it is to “forget” just how important we are in God’s eyes the moment there is a challenge. I am more than guilty of this! Yet, at the same time, I find at the most difficult moments this is also what keeps me going – remembering that even when it seems no one else cares what is going on in my world, God does. It is so hard to wrap my mind around just how much He loves me. I think about things that have happened in my life and moments I thought, “if you cared how could you let this happen.” Then, it is as if I hear a voice say, “if you only knew the amount of tears I cried.” I think of parents who often have have to walk out of a room when a child is having a procedure done as they simply can’t handle it, however, God never does! He stays right there holding our hand ready to catch us no matter how much it hurts Him to see what is going on in our lives. Even when what is happening is something that we have done wrong, as quickly as we can drop to our knees and ask for forgiveness it is forgotten. Yes, indeed, He values us greatly and gives us constant unconditional love!
Jessie, the same gives me comfort, that even when it seems no one else cares or understands, God does. He knows us intimately. He knows how things affect us, when we’re crying inside. And He cares. Such an awesome thing to meditate on. His love is infinite, and we can actually abide in it. May we rest continually in that truth and never doubt.
i just read this again, it just made me aware of how my hurts and pains are actually of concern for God. I had gotten hardened and like oh well, obviously God doesn’t seem to care about this, so i will try to ignore it. But it’s not true, thanks for this devotion.
Oh, Allison, yesssss! He cares about the littlest things that concern us. “…casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). That verse gives me so much comfort, and I often pray for God to help me cast my cares. So instead of ignoring them, CAST them upon God, knowing He cares and He will take them and work them together for good.
We all need to be reminded from time to time of how much God loves us and cares for us.