Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

"Not one sparrow … can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't worry! You are more valuable to him than many sparrows."¹

You may have read about some city workers in Hamilton, Canada, who were trimming trees along a certain street. In one tree they found a nest with several baby robins in it. They decided not to trim this tree until the nest was empty.

When it was abandoned, the workers returned. In the nest they found a piece of paper, along with dried twigs, the robins had used to build the nest for their babies. On the paper were printed the words, "We trust in the Lord our God!"

In life when things get rough as they sometimes do, it pays to remember how Jesus said that God was aware of every sparrow that fell to the ground and that we were of much more value than many sparrows. This was to let us know that God cares when we are hurting. As the hymn writer expressed it:

    Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
    Too deeply for mirth and song;
    As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
    And the way grows weary and long?
    O Yes, He cares; I know he cares,
    His heart is touched with my grief;
    When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
    I know my Savior cares.²

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in my times of sadness and distress help me not only to know that you care, but also to feel your loving care in the very depths of my being. And please give me loving friends who will support me through these timesâ€"not to preach at me or give me advice, but just to be thereâ€"and be as Jesus to me. And help me to do the same for others who are going through tough times. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Jesus in Matthew 10:29-31 (TLB)(NLT).
2. Frank E. Graeff

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