A God of Specific Detail

I find it amazing that God who made the heavens and the earth – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – should be intimately concerned with events in a tiny village in South West England…. but He is!

I had returned from a weekend, where my husband and I had been teaching the Word of God and generally ministering to people in a Church in Marsh Gibbon. On returning home we discovered a leadership meeting had been arranged for 8pm that night. I rang my son (the Church Leader) asking if he would release me, as I was in need of a reasonably early night – our leadership meetings are often lengthy!

Charles headed out for the meeting and I went to bed to rest and read, before turning the light off. I was looking for a book that was not too ‘heavy’ and my eyes alighted on a new/unread book … I had never seen it before and had no recollection of having purchased it. (I am convinced I have angelic visitors who put books I need to read, right in front of my nose, so that I can’t miss them.)

The title of the book was, “Evidence not seen - the account of a young woman’s life in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp." She and her husband were missionaries in Malacca, and when the island was invaded, she was captured and interned for 8 years with another 1000 women. The book was not for the faint hearted, (not too 'heavy?') but told of God’s love and care in the midst of brutality and suffering. Charles returned to find me asleep and the book lying where it had fallen.

The next evening we were teaching in a small village, exploring the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the evening, the minister asked if I would pray with a lady. She was constantly in a state of anxiety, with seemingly nothing prompting these sudden intense and frightening episodes. As we talked I was prompted to ask when the trauma had started. Her answer was, “I have always lived with them, I think the anxiety stems from the womb.” Further questions revealed the fact that both her parents (you’ve guessed it) were Japanese Prisoners of War who had suffered unimaginable things, but survived. I understood, because I had been directed by the Holy Spirit to pick up that particular book, and had been prepared in such a very specific way for that moment.

So marvel with me at the enormity of our God, who cares about such specific details, and was able to direct me to read a book, that until that Sunday evening, was unaware even existed.

I am amazed that His love for me and you is so great, that He is able to place books and people in the right places and at the right time, because He wants to set us free and make us whole, and make available the right resources to get the job done!

God, who made the earth,
The air, the sky, the sea,
Who gave the light its birth,
He cares for me.