When was the last time God spoke to you via email? A few weeks ago, I got a random email from someone I barely know. The message included no greeting or closing. Only the words: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

Most likely, I received that email by accident, but I recognized God wanted me to get that message because He knew I’d been feeling worried. The troubles I was facing weren’t out of the ordinary, but they’d stolen my peace and made me forget God’s care for me.

I didn’t mention my “email from God’ to anyone, but a few days later when my husband and I visited friends, I got the message again. When our friend handed me a teacup, I saw the words, clear as a bell, on the side of that cup:

“His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

I knew God wanted me to know He loves and cares for me. And I think He wants you to know it too.

As long as we live on this side of heaven, trouble will be with us. But no matter how big our struggles are, learning to shift our focus away from our trials and towards God is a key to greater faith and peace.

Faith grows when we turn our focus away from trouble and towards our Father

When I read Jesus’ message on worry in the Sermon on the Mount, I see 3 truths about God that reassure my worried, anxious heart. (You can read the whole message in Matthew 6:25-34.)

Our Heavenly Father cares for His children.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

We have a compassionate, loving Father who cares even for birds! If God feeds sparrows, how will He not care for us? Jesus goes on to say that if God clothes flowers in beauty, how much more will He not clothe us.

When I call to mind that I have a loving, compassionate Father who cares for even birds and flowers, I’m reassured. Surely, He will care for His children, too.

Our Heavenly Father knows our needs.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (Matthew 6:31, 32)

God knows your needs whatever they are. God knows if you need a new job. He knows you need finances to pay those bills or strength to stand through the trial you’re facing. God knows your need for hope when you feel depressed, and He knows your need for faith when doubt is knocking on your door.

Jesus said it Himself in Matthew 6:8. “Your father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

Our father promises to meet our needs when we seek Him first.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

Our job is not to worry about how we can solve our problem, provide for ourselves in our own strength, and map out every minute of our future. Our job is to seek God’s Kingdom first. Of course, work and planning are important, but when we make God our first priority, He makes everything else fall into place.

Friend, if you’re worried about something today, may I reassure you?

Sparrows and flowers are not worth that much in the scheme of the whole universe, but you are the crown of God’s creation, so valuable to your Heavenly Father that He sacrificed His son on the cross to pay for your sins. He’s already met your need for a Savior. He will meet every need you have.

Let’s turn up the worship music and turn to God’s Word to remind us of our Father’s steadfast love and His awesome power to do more than we can imagine or ask for. Let’s flip our fear with the Word of God and step away from worry to fix our eyes on Him. Just for today.

 

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Bird Photo Credit: Shirley Nortcliffe