Matthew 10:29-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Sometimes we suspect God doesn’t care about us anymore. Is he really there? Does he really watch? If so, why am I stuck in this job with a mean manager and creepy coworkers? Why hasn’t he done something about my family’s unending drama? Why do I feel so alone so much of the time?

The Lord doesn’t answer all our “whys”. But Jesus makes it clear he is always aware of what is going on, and he always cares. Whether we can see or feel them, Jesus presents promises for us to grab and hold: He knows every bird on earth and what happens to it. My parents once had a cardinal in their yard that flew into the window time and time again. The bird would see its reflection in the window and think the reflection was a rival bird. God was aware this was happening. Each spring there are huge flocks of some sort of black bird that gather in the trees around our neighborhood. The Lord knows every member of those flocks. It’s not just because he is curious, or a bird watcher, or a member of the Audubon society. He has a care and concern for every part of his creation.

There is no part of creation he cares about more than you. Even the hairs of your head are numbered. You and I might pay more attention to our hair than we need to, with all the different shampoos, conditioners, dyes, combs, brushes, and curlers we use. But the Lord knows us so intimately that he knows every single hair. He knows which ones aren’t quite as colorful as they used to be. He knows which ones aren’t attached quite so firmly as they once were.

Of course, his big concern is not birds, or hair. Jesus tells us this to assure us that in every way he cares for you, all of you. He never gave his life for birds. But he loved you so much that he suffered in your place for your sins and died to give you forgiveness and set you free. Not because you and I are so good, but because he loves us so much, we are worth more than many sparrows. So don’t be afraid. You’ve got God’s attention. More than that, you have his heart.