Deuteronomy 29:5
Yet the Lord says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet."
People pray about significant things in their lives (healing for family, strength for pastors, faith for unbelievers). There are also seemingly insignificant things for which people pray, such as winning a game, getting recognition or having decent weather on the weekend. Common sense says whatever is less significant is also less important. Since this is the way humans tend to think, we can often believe God sees things the same way. It is easy for one to imagine God hearing their prayers and thinking, "You're asking about this? It's really not something I care about." When someone thinks their insignificant prayers do not matter to God, then it can be difficult to pray for anything. It can make someone wonder, "What is significant enough for God? What does God care about?"
The Isrealites might have wondered the same thing, when they were in the desert. They prayed to God for food so they would not starve, and He answered this prayer (Exodus 16:2-5). Then, the Isrealites prayed for meat, but not so they would not starve. They wanted meat, because they had "lost their appetite" for what God gave them (Numbers 11:4-6). God was angry at them for rejecting Him, but He answered their prayers and made them eat meat for "a whole month—until it came out of their nostrils," (Numbers 11:18-20). Over and over the Isrealites "willfully put God to the test," (Psalm 78:18). They "vexed the Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41), and yet they continued to call on Him. They prayed for food and they probably prayed for other things, such as clothes. Some of them, though, might have thought, "God answered our prayers for meat, but we aggravated Him, and now I'm going to call on Him for a tunic and a pair of sandals. Why would God care about whether I have shoes?"
Well, whether the Isrealites thought this way or not, God heard their prayers. He said to them, "During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet," (Deuteronomy 29:5). God did not just make sure the Isrealites had food. He made sure they had shirts and shoes, and He kept them in great condition. He did this for the people who angered Him; who asked for insignificant things. He kept their stomachs filled, and He also kept their backs out of the sun and their feet above the sand. He did this "so that you might know that He is the Lord your God,” (Deuteronomy 29:6). He cared enough to cause divine intervention for sandal straps.
 |
| The Bible says, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps," (Proverbs 16:9), so God took the time to create every step someone takes, before they take it. No footprint is unimportant to God. |
God cares. He says that not even the smallest birds fall to the ground outside of His care, (Matthew 10:29). He speaks through His Word that those who follow Him should cast "all their anxiety on Him because He cares," (1 Peter 5:7). He even cares for His enemies, and He asks His followers to "pray for those who persecute them," (Matthew 5:44). God cares for the most insignificant things.
So, when the thought crosses your mind that God does not care about this, ignore that thought. Instead, think on this: Anyone who is a child of God can boldly go before Him and ask for anything (James 1:6). "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us," (1 John 5:14), so "pray continually," (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Sources
- The Bible (New International Version)