You are Worth More than Many Sparrows

I received the above picture in a text message from my son Nathan yesterday (Wednesday). It was the first greeting of the day and included these few words: “Dad’s bench this morning.” 

I was preparing for my mid-week word of encouragement and prayer video and this welcomed interruption fit right in. The timing was impeccable, although mine was not. I was running late with my video because I had changed my mind on what I wanted to say a few times.

Earlier this week I was sure I knew the verses I was going to share. Then I decided I needed to study that scripture a little further, and I chose something else instead. Then on Tuesday night, my husband Chris paraphrased a beloved verse that was very near and dear to my heart at one time… and I was like, “That’s it! That’s what we all need to hear.”

It’s another verse that my late husband Mike and I held close after his terminal diagnosis. A verse that reminded us that God is always watching over us, and He knows more about us than we know—like how many hairs are on our heads. It’s a reminder that nothing happens without God’s knowledge, and that difficult times are not a sign that He has forgotten us, or that He doesn’t care.

It goes like this, “Jesus tells his disciples, ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.’” Matthew 10:29-31

These words Jesus spoke to His disciples convey the disciples (and yours and my) great worth to God and paint such a beautiful picture of the Father’s love for us all—His created beings great and small. Just as God cares about the sparrow falling from the sky, He cares even more for His children.

Mike and I often listened to the old hymn called, His Eye is on the Sparrow. It goes like this…

Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely,
And long for Heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;

“Let not your heart be troubled,”
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth,
But one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;

Whenever I am tempted,
Whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing,
When hope within me dies,
I draw closer to Him,
From care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

I hope these words bring you comfort like they did for me and Mike and like they still do for me today.

It will be two years in September since I started these mid-week prayer videos. Sometimes, I know exactly what I want to share, other times I’m at a complete loss for words. And I still sometimes think to myself, this is just weird. Like a fish out of water, I have to trust this ongoing mid-week assignment to God and keep swimming along.

Tune into my prayer and encouragement videos on Facebook and Instagram. Thanks to those of you who already do. I’m taking a break (not from praying but from the videos) and I’ll be back in September (the Lord willing). God bless you and remember, His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches you and me.