The Lord Cares About Everything
“In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive. Jeremiah 50:20 NIV
We even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:11
We still have the piece of paper with the witness to God’s goodness, and which was wrapped around three 100 dollar bills – more than 40 years ago.
I walked down to the mailbox in the entry area of our government subsidized apartment in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was the second year of seminary: 1976. We had moved from Springfield, Illinois to Fort Wayne. Diane had just recently gotten a job at Lutheran Hospital. But the funds to continue my seminary education were evaporating before our eyes. I had considered dropping out of school for a year, taking an early vicarage, or finding a full time job and going to school part time. Just in the nick of time, however, help arrived.
The letter in the mail that day was unremarkable. In these pre-junkmail days I didn’t stand by the recycle bin as I went through the mail. I opened every piece of correspondence. When I opened this particular envelope it contained a single half page note with the words:
The Lord cares about everything.
The paper was wrapped around 3 $100 bills! Just in the nick of time we were able to consider continuing not abandoning my seminary education. Perhaps if I had received this sooner I would not have been so keenly aware of God’s timing. I might have taken very much for granted how God supplies our needs and provides for us in real time according to his good will and plan for us.
God’s work is timely. It’s not merely eternally wistful in nature. He doesn’t work only in the abstract, offering comfort, peace of heart and mind, forgiveness and mercy – as vitally important as these may be. He work in our lives at times of his choosing. But in real time. The Lord does care about everything. All the time, and in his time he will provide for all our needs. Now is the time for us to praise his holy name.
