Under His Constant Care

Honey Bunch, Pres' "used" dog, is almost fourteen years old, stone deaf, can't see well, is hard-headed, and moves very slowly (that makes three of us presently in the house who have similar maladies—Bill, Honey Bunch, and Anabel!)

Pres and Di love Honey dearly and they have entrusted this beloved creature into our keeping for two weeks! They trust us with her for two reasons mainly: We are constantly watching over her and we take very good care of her—everything she needs we know about and furnish for her.

Now for a brief word study:

constant: not changing; faithful, regular; continual; persistent; anything that does not change or vary

care: close attention; heed; liking or regard; charge; protection; responsibility; feel concern; feel a love or a liking for; to look after; provide for; to feel concern about or interest in

Ephesians 1:4 has an amazing, comforting, incredible, marvelous, unfathomable statement in it for you and for me: "…before the foundation of the world He chose us to become, in Christ, His holy and blameless children living within His constant care" (Ephesians 1:4 [JBP]).

Do you see why I used all of those superlatives—amazing, marvelous, incredible, unfathomable? I am under His constant care! Think about those six words: I—am—under—His—constant—care. Now look back at the definitions of constant and care.

Can I possibly comprehend those gracious words? If I can comprehend them, can I believe them? If I believe them, how will those words effect my life? All of us as Believers are UNDER HIS CONSTANT CARE, from the seven-year old to the seventy-seven-year old.

Going back to Honey Bunch, how would it make me feel if Pres said to me, "Mom, we just don't feel like you're capable of taking care of the dog. We know how tiresome it is to be constantly watching over her and she doesn't eat well over at your house, so considering everything, we're going to find someone else to take care of her."

Is that anything like what we communicate to God when we take everything back into our hands? "I don't trust You, God, I'll do this myself." How many times I have "said" that to Him in one way or another—doubting His Word, doubting His ability to handle the situations in my life or in the lives of my "beloveds."

God, I'm sorry. I know You love this one much better than I do. I know that you can take care of him much better—you're omnipotent and omniscient—all-powerful and all-knowing! I sincerely want to give him into Your hands—it's just that I've programmed myself to be such a grand, competent "care-taker!" I love You, Lord. Help me to grasp Your love and all it means in my life.