His Eye is on the Sparrow

My dad told me the most amazing story yesterday and I just have to share it with you.

Unemployment has been a problem at my parents' church for the past few years. One particular family has adopted seven children and the father lost his job two months ago. (I'll call them the J family.) My dad decided to pray boldly on their behalf, reminding the Lord that He promises to be a Father to the fatherless. He reminded God that His honor was at stake due to that promise and that He needed to provide for this family who had taken in seven orphaned children.

And God kept that promise.

In spite of a tough economy, the father of the J family found a job and started last week!

Last Friday, my parents went to the mall where they go to walk in bad weather. In front of one particular store, my dad noticed a $20 bill lying on the ground. No one else seemed to see it. He leaned down and picked it up, looking around to see if anyone had lost it.

No one seemed to have any idea it was even there. It was as if the money was only visible to my dad.

He and my mom continued to walk the mall and my dad began to feel very bad about the $20, thinking that, 'Maybe some poor kid had dropped it and would be so upset when he/she realized it was gone." About a half hour later, they were still walking when suddenly a young boy called out to them by name. My parents didn't recognize him but went over to talk to him. He said that he had been to their church in the past and was currently visiting the J family for the weekend.

Just then, three of the girls from the J family came walking out of a store nearby! They talked for a few moments and then my dad suddenly found himself saying,
"I know this is a strange question, but did any of you girls lose a twenty dollar bill?"

The girls told him that their dad had given them each twenty dollars in celebration of his new job and they had come to the mall to spend it. Each girl looked through her purse and one suddenly said,
"My money is gone!"

Instantly, my dad knew why he had found the $20. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the money, handed it to the young girl and said, "Here is your $20!"

Only God.

What are the statistical odds that my parents would be at the mall at the same time as the J kids, that he would be the only one to see the money lying on the ground in a busy mall, that the young boy would recognize them and call them over to talk so that they would eventually see the J girls? And what would make my dad even connect the two incidents in his mind?

Only God.

As my parents walked away, my dad said to my mom, "His eye is on the sparrow."

Because you know what?

Jesus said,

"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." Matthew 10:29-31

There was a song written based on these verses called, "His Eye is on the Sparrow."

"Why do I feel discouraged?
Why do the shadows come?

Why should my heart feel lonely

And long for heaven and home?

When Jesus is my portion

My constant Friend is he

His eye is on the the sparrow

and I know He watches me

His eye is on the sparrow

and I know He watches me.

How comforting to know that He knows every detail of our lives and He is watching over us. No detail goes unnoticed, no stressful circumstance unattended. We have nothing to fear because He is always ahead of every situation and taking care of us. He only asks us to trust Him--even when things don't make sense--just to trust that He has a plan unfolding.