The Divine Details
September 22, 2023 · by Hillary Wheeler
The more life I’ve lived, the more the truth is revealed through the journey: that there is a world of things unseen by human eyes that are important to the grander scheme of the Master Artist's design. As admirers strolling through an art gallery often miss the subtle details the artists create with their meticulous precision of strokes or fail to see how tiny details significantly enhance the final product, we can so easily overlook the divine details that God works into our lives or dismiss them as insignificant moments or meaningless painful experiences. I think that sometimes we don’t even know what to look for, the reason or importance of the detail or how it’s going to work together with the rest of our lives.
“He hath made everything beautiful in His time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God taketh from the beginning to the end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11, KJV
I remember being in awe of the small and delicate details of my angel baby that I miscarried in 2022 at 15 weeks. I remember just holding baby D’s tiny hand on the tip of my finger and just feeling amazed that God's hand knit in my womb such a beautiful and detailed creation. Over time, I’ve just felt in my heart when I think of our angel that when God takes the time to make something so detailed and beautiful that maybe there are times where He just loves His handiwork so much that He just wants to keep it for Himself to enjoy. He thought out every intricate detail about us when He created us, and He has never stopped caring just that much as He continues to create within us and work out around us the details He envisions and knows are necessary for a complete work.
“For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-16, NIV
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11, KJV
Our Lord is very detail oriented; He has always been very specific about the way things in the universe work together, the way to enter into His presence, and the way we should live to please Him. There is no doubt in my mind that for those who serve Him and look to His higher ways, all of the details He places into His masterpiece of our lives will blend perfectly together to create an exquisite visual of His infinite wisdom, love, and grace.
We can think of loss or hard times as a dark shadowy spot on the canvas of life. One thing I've learned from listening to artistic tips from various artists over the years is that the shadows actually help to enhance the primary objects of the painting or work of art. When this concept is applied to life, it’s a great visual to apply to our understanding of how God uses the darker times of our lives to illuminate and bring to the forefront His goodness and strength as we lean on Him through the things we can't control. God doesn’t just surround us in darkness without softening the edges with His peace and comfort. He will never lay down the brush, He will keep working around us, in us, through us until all of the divine details that only He can know or produce are complete.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28, KJV
All around the world, our cities, and our church families are people suffering great loss in life, whether from sickness, natural storms, job loss, spiritual weariness, and the list could go on. Sometimes there is no clear explanation or sufficient human comfort to ease the pains of life, and some emotions should be felt as they naturally arise, but when there is a need of ultimate comfort and peace, God is faithful to supply it, in the fatherly and loving way that only He can. The answers aren’t always supplied in this life, but I hope to encourage someone that God is in the details of your life, whether good or bad, happy or sad, and He will be with you and carry you through, if needed, until the grand reveal.
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, KJV
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28, KJV
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4, KJV
My heart is so heavy for all who are experiencing loss in this season. My prayers go up for all who need God's comfort, strength, and peace in your pain and striving. May God carry you through to brighter days.
Keep Striving!
Your sister in Christ and in love,
Hillary Wheeler
Main photo courtesy of Tabitha Turner via Unsplash
Photo of baby's hand courtesy of the author