“And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.”

Jesus told His disciples that they should not “be afraid of those who want to kill your body.” This is because they can only kill the body, but they “cannot touch your soul.” By contrast, He said the disciples should “Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). In other words, disciples of Jesus Christ should not fear the persecution of the persecutors, because they cannot touch the soul or control the eternal destiny of the soul and the body.

Furthermore, we should not be afraid because God keeps track of everything. Jesus said, “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it,” (Matthew 10:29), and, as our verse for today says, “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Nothing can happen in this world, though it be filled with trials and persecutions, without God being aware of it. Indeed, “he makes everything work out according to his plan,” (Ephesians 1:11). We need not fear, because God is in control, and He has not forgotten about us.

Christ gave an additional comfort in the next verse. We should not be afraid because God values us very highly. Jesus said, “You are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows,” (Matthew 10:31). If God is so concerned with sparrows that He even keeps track of single sparrows that fall to the ground, then how much more will He be concerned about us and what happens to us? Whatever may happen to us, we must trust God. We must trust that He “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God,” (Romans 8:28).

One would think that God would not be concerned with something so trivial and inconsequential as the number of hairs on a head. Yet our verse for today plainly says that God does keep track. If He is concerned about that small matter, then how much more concerned is He with what happens to us? How much more concerned is He when persecutors and persecution come our way?

God loves us and is concerned about us. He keeps track of everything about us, even the smallest and most inconsequential detail. Take heart today, then, and do not fear, for God even knows how many hairs are on your head at this very moment.