05232026 God Is in the Details

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God with big shoulders. Unlike frail humans, God can handle everything that is placed upon Him.

I don’t know how normal this is, but I often find myself able to trust God more in the big picture than in the small details. For example, I might have great peace regarding the outcome of a health situation, but I can be filled with chaos as I consider making arrangements at work, getting to appointments on time, what questions to ask the doctor, or what daily adjustments I have to remember. Or I can trust God with the big picture of my parents’ declining health, but I can be conflicted as I think about getting through a phone call with them, how my plans and schedule might be affected, or how well their daily needs are being met.

So, I ask – Does God deal only with the big picture? Or is He also involved in the details? Case study – the birth of Jesus. Was God in the big picture? This seems like one of the most obvious truths of the Bible. From the very beginning, God had a plan to send His Son into the world as the Redeemer, and the whole Old Testament is a record of how He moved toward that plan. God’s interactions with the patriarchs and the events of Israel’s history were all precursors to God’s big plan. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

Okay, that’s the big picture. At the precise time in human history, God sent His Son. But what about the details? Poor Mary asking, “Joseph, is there any way we can delay this trip? Or can I stay here? I think my time is getting close.” God was in that detail, arranging that the Bread of Life would be born in the House of Bread (Bethlehem) as the Scriptures predicted. After they arrived, “Joseph, can’t you find a hotel? Where is the nearest midwife?” God provided a stable, oversaw the birth, and brought shepherds to see the Good Shepherd. “Joseph, what is all the chaos? Are they really threatening to kill our baby?” An angel provided guidance so the family could escape safely to Egypt.

At the same time that God ministered to Mary’s detailed needs, He also ministered to Simeon, who had been praying, “I’m waiting for Your consolation. You have said I will see the Messiah before I die. I’m not getting any younger. When, Lord?” Simeon held Jesus and was ready to die in peace. Meanwhile, God was fulfilling prophecy. “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying” (Matthew 1:22). Yes, big picture – fulfill prophecy. But those fulfilled prophecies played out in details – the virgin birth, descended from Abraham, of the tribe of Judah, descended from David, born in Bethlehem, worshipped and given gifts, the slaughter of innocents, the flight to and return from Egypt. God was in the details of a misunderstood pregnancy, a timely taxation, travel requirements, a special star, curious scholars, the stops those scholars took along the way, and a jealous king.

A similar story could be told about the death of Jesus. Big picture – did it happen at the right time? Yes, Daniel’s weeks were precisely fulfilled, and Jesus’ death came at the right time in human history. It happened appropriately (and prophetically) at Passover, just when the Jewish leaders were most concerned that it NOT happen.

The big picture was right, but what about the details? Consider all the details that occurred just in the 24 hours before Jesus’ death. He was betrayed by a friend. That betrayal was for a very specific amount of money. The betrayer suffered remorse, killed himself, and the blood money was used to purchase a public burial field. Jesus’ disciples fled in the garden. Peter betrayed Jesus – three times – and then a rooster crowed. False witnesses provided the “evidence” that truth never could have furnished. Jesus suffered silently. Jesus was beaten, spit on, had His beard plucked, was pierced in His hands, feet, and side, but none of His bones were broken. The physical abuse made Him appear less than human. Jesus was mocked publicly, His garments were distributed, and lots were cast for His coat. He was given vinegar to drink. He was forsaken by God. He died with criminals but was buried with the wealthy. He was taken down and entombed before nightfall. Even if some prophecies are combined, there are still over thirty prophecies, and these are very specific details that God oversaw, controlled, and brought about during that one dark day.

Okay, but apart from Jesus, does God do this for ordinary believers (besides those included in the considerations above)? Case study – Elijah. Elijah trusts God for the big picture, as he delivers the profound prediction that there would be no rain for three years. Now what? Both the proclamation and the ramifications of that prediction created a lot of questions in the world of details. “How will I evade the king’s wrath? How will I survive the drought?” God sent Elijah to hide by the brook Cherith. The brook provided water, and ravens brought food. But then the brook dried up. “Um, God, I’m hungry and thirsty. Now what?” God sent Elijah to Zarephath. Watch these details! He was sent to a specific woman, who was a widow. He met that woman as soon as he got to the gate of the city. He met the woman on exactly the right day; this was the last day she was gathering sticks for her last fire to cook her last meal. We could continue looking at Elijah’s story and the great battle on Mount Carmel, but it is clear that God did not use Elijah in His big picture without also giving very careful attention to the concerning details that resulted in Elijah’s life.

We have a saying, “The devil’s in the details,” meaning that it is often the little things that trip us up, even though the big plan appears to be fine. From a human perspective, I agree that I have a tendency to trip up more over the details. However, I must learn to confidently declare: “God is in the details,” because HE IS! “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7). God cares about the concerning details just as He cares about the big picture, and I must trust Him for the details as well as for the big picture. His shoulders are big enough, and His mind is wise enough.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA