Does God care about the details?

I remember the first time I felt like God heard my prayers. And this revelation had absolutely nothing to do with an ill family member or a natural disaster.

It was about my 8th grade cheer squad’s routine for Meet the Jags.

Meet the Jags was the night when all of the sports teams were introduced to the rest of the middle school. And as a cheerleader, probably the 20th girl selected for the 20-person squad, my name would be called out in front of everyone. Upon my name being called out, I had the option to do a running or standing tumbling pass or a jump of my choice.

But here was the problem: I could not do any of the above well. My tumbling skills did not go beyond a cartwheel. My jumps were horrible. Pretty much all I had going for me was my piercing voice and intense school spirit.

And as a new Christian, I prayed, “God, please help me out here. I don’t want to be embarrassed in front of my crushes—it's never too early to need a date for the Christmas dance. I either need to get my back tuck down within the next two weeks or get a better toe touch, and I feel like neither will happen. So I pray You would work this out.”

A few days later, our cheer coaches told us, “Actually, we’re just going to have everyone do a little wave when their names are called. No tumbling passes or jumps.”

There wasn’t even an explanation . . . And a little wave could be managed. I remember thinking, “God really does care about me and the things going on in my life.”

While I no longer pray for a better hurkey or a back-handspring, I do find myself wondering sometimes if God cares about the small things. Do the details matter to Him? Scripture says yes.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6–7

About anything.

In everything.

Casting all your anxieties.

Because he cares for you.

These are calls to bring requests and worries and things large and small to the feet of Jesus. Whether it’s about cancer or a head cold, trauma or something others may see as trivial, the thorn in your flesh or the stubbed toe, we can always bring our worries to God—because He cares.

In his book Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund says, "Beyond what we are conscious of at any given moment, the Father's tender care envelops us with pursuing gentleness, sweetly governing every last detail of our lives."

To the Author and Creator that crafted the colorway of the most beautiful sunset, the mitochondria in cells, the design of a butterfly’s cocoon, and the hairs on your head, details in fact matter. He reigns over all of creation, and at the same time, He abounds with tenderness and mercy. Therefore, you can—and should—entrust Him with worries of all magnitudes.

He may not give you a standing tuck or a pristine toe-touch (still waiting on mine), but He’s listening and advocating on your behalf. So come to Him, with troubles large and small. Our sovereign God really did care about my 8th-grader worries, and He really does care about whatever worries you may be experiencing today.