Devotion: The God of Details (Shirley Corder)

Read 1 Kings 17:8-16

Do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows! — Matthew 10:31 GNB


Some years ago, my husband and I stood in the shade of a large thorn tree and gazed gloomily at the steaming car. The fierce African sun beat down in the parking lot. We felt tired and longed for a cool shower. The rubber pipe in the engine couldn't have burst at a worst time. Why, oh why had I decided to stop at the last shopping center before the mountain pass just to buy sausages?

My husband reached for the mobile phone and rang a nearby friend who was a self-trained motor mechanic. At least help was near at hand.

I gazed up at the huge shady tree where we were parked. Another blessing.

As we waited, I stared at the rugged mountain towering ahead. It earns its nickname, The Road of Death because of the dangerous curves and the surfaces soaked with grease from heavy vehicles. If we hadn't made this unscheduled stop, we would have been on that road when the pipe burst. Even if we hadn't met with a serious accident, we would have been stranded on that road in the blistering heat with no shade or water. Thank God for taking care of the details.

God once used a handful of flour and a little olive oil to rescue a widow and her son. He also saved a young family when he multiplied a small jar of oil. On two occasions, Jesus fed vast crowds from small amounts of fish and bread. As we waited for our friend to arrive, we gave thanks that God prompted us to stop and buy that small packet of sausages. It was such a little item, yet He used it to protect us from certain disaster.

As writers, we need to take care of the details of our story or book. The premise may be excellent, the plot fascinating, the characters well-formed. But if the details are inaccurate, the story loses credibility. If the details are missing, the narrative may be boring or hard to follow.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for the many times you use insignificant events in our lives. Thank you for the gift of writing. Help us to be aware of the small details we need to include in our writing, in order to make our stories come alive. Amen.

Shirley M. Corder writes from the coast of South Africa. Whatever happens in her life seems to become the subject of a devotion. Visit her writer and personal website,  or Rise and Soar, her site to encourage and inspire those in the cancer valley.