God Cares About the Little Things

One of the first big purchases my husband and I made together was an Ikea kitchen table. Its compact square shape fit perfectly in the small eating space of our apartment, and the ambiguous black/brown color meant it would go with everything else we had.

Since it could expand to seat six people, I made the compelling case that we could use it for years. Though he would have preferred a table made of real wood and already put together, he reluctantly agreed to its purchase and battled missing pieces and questionable instructions to assemble it.

Over the next nine years, that inexpensive table saw my progression from novice cook to one who could hold her own. It moved into our first house, hosted friends, held board games, and served as the centerpiece for conversations ranging from joyous to somber. It became a playmat and racetrack as we welcomed our firstborn son, and then we filled all four original chairs after the adoption of our daughter from China. When I decided to quit my job to stay home with the kids for a season, it became my makeshift workspace for writing during nap times.

Despite all the wonderful moments we had around it, the fact remained that it was a cheap table. My husband scraped the top of his legs on it every time he sat there, and I randomly found screws that had fallen out on the floor.

The quality of the table couldn’t be improved by the value of the life experiences we had around it, yet I was reluctant to replace it. My excuse was that our kids were young and there was no point spending money on something they would likely destroy.

While I had a valid argument, there was more to why I wanted to hang on to this piece of furniture. You see, many times I sat at that table and prayed big prayers. I also offered regular expressions of thanksgiving for food, health, and family. There we invited God in for the milestone moments and thanked him for the good things he had done.

But how often did I consult with him about the minute details of my life?

I often feel like I’m bothering God if I pray about the mundane specifics of my day. After all, he’s the all-knowing, ever-present Almighty, and I think he has more important things to be concerned about than what I’m packing for my kid’s lunch or what brand of laundry detergent I should use.

Having been a Christian for as long as I can remember, though, I know I can call on the Lord in times of turmoil. I’ve heard Psalm 46:1 quoted many times: “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (NLT).

That verse is more than words to me. I have lived it over and over.

God was there through college decisions and for transfers when I realized my path had changed. He guided me through the highs and lows of career transitions. He stayed by my side when I was lost in toxic friendships and put steady people in my path. He allowed me to serve in big and small ways, even when my motives weren’t firmly rooted in him.

Through the lonely single years and comedy of dating life, the Lord heard my prayers. He made his presence known in my relationship with my husband and in our married life. During medical emergencies, health crises, and family turmoil, I prayed hard. Through births, deaths, and our adoption journey, God was our refuge.

In times of crisis or major decisions, calling on the Lord makes sense. The results may be different than I hope, but his handiwork is always evident. So it’s easy to cry out to God when times are difficult. But why do I forget that he also cares about the little things in my life?

A few weeks ago, a new friend posted a beautiful, counter-height dining table set for sale. It had eight chairs and was solid wood. Her price was reasonable, so I briefly mentioned it to my husband. Then we got sucked into the kids’ nightly bedtime routines, and I forgot about it.

The next day, my husband asked to see some photos of the dining set. Flash forward to today, and I’m typing this piece on the leather-cushioned chair of our new kitchen table set.

While my husband is excited to have a comfortable place to eat dinner, this table serves me on a much deeper level. It’s a tangible reminder that God is active in the small details of my life. For example, most of my friends are in similar life stages as me. But I met the first owner of this table at a church book club filled with retirees and ladies with older children. They are a constant reminder that there is life on the other side of toddlerhood. They also have furniture that doesn’t show the wear and tear of living with young kids. Access to a nice dining set is just one of many benefits of ending up in a group with these women.

Additionally, the timing was right considering we were given some cash as a gift. We were also able to quickly sell that Ikea set for most of what we paid for it, which was no accident.

Those things may have been overlooked without the biggest evidence of God’s fingerprint on the purchase: Though I didn’t notice in the original photos, the table is exactly the same design as the furniture we have in our living room. Not just the same color family, but part of a matching set.

You may think that everyone in our area buys from the same stores, or it was merely a coincidence, and you could be right. But I choose to believe that the creator of the universe concerns himself with both the big and small details of my life…and yours.

As I sit at this wooden table, I know God cares deeply about the family and friends who will share meals here in the coming years. He will be present in the school projects, gingerbread houses, and puzzles we’ll complete around it. The giggles of my children as they use as a fort will be a joyful noise to his ears.

God cares about what we do each day. He delights in his people. Even in the aspects of life we find ordinary, he is there. Psalm 147:11 says, “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love” (NIV). He loves the details of our lives so much that he sent his Son to die on another wooden object many years ago.

This preowned table reminds me that nothing I do is insignificant in God’s mighty hands. Even in seasons that seem mundane, he appreciates the details. When we trust our Savior with the little things day after day, there’s no doubt that the big things are safe with him. I’m so grateful that my new kitchen table could remind me of this truth.

Jessica Pasley Goodpaster is a recovering perfectionist, loves God and people, and likes to binge-watch TV. She and her husband have two sweet kiddos—a six-year-old son who she birthed herself (with the help of medical staff and a double dose of epidural drugs) and a three-year-old daughter adopted from China. In 2018, Jessica stepped away from traditional employment to stay home full-time where she now blogs about parenting, funding adoptions, marriage, saving money, and the good life. Visit her at www.jessicagoodpaster.com or follow her on Facebook and Pinterest.