How Great Is Your God?

In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies. The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it. You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name. Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness. For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel

Psalm 89:7-18

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

When the ancient Hebrews faced a big problem it was customary for them to look up into the night sky and to contemplate the immense size of the universe and the unimaginable power of it Maker. Then they compared all that with their problem and realized that it was nothing at all in the eyes of God.

So if you’re facing a big problem today, then ask a few practical God-questions:

1) Is God too big to care?

Remember that he made the atom and its electrons as well as the planets and stars. They’re too small for our imaginations to grasp. Jesus told us that his Father is very concerned about all the small stuff. So God is never too big to consider or get involved in our problems.

2) But then is God too small to rescue you?

The Psalmist says that he rules over the surging sea. In creating the world he brought order out of chaos and still does, every day. He creates a way out of calamity ex nihilo (out of nothing). That means that he makes an exit out of any situation where one did not exist before. If you don’t believe all the examples of this in the Bible, then just ask people you know who’ve seen it happen in real life. History (and the evening news) is full of true stories of it.

3) Is God too small to heal and restore?

If the Psalmist is right that God’s arm is endued with great power, and he can do anything he wants at any time, then why can’t he rescue your marriage? Or your career? Or your addiction? Or heal your disease?

4) Is God too small to help you succeed?

Did he fail at his own works? Did he fumble the ball with our galaxy? Is he unable to give us more opportunities if we’ve bungled the ones we’ve already had? If we’re putting God and his kingdom first, then let’s not shrink back in fear if we’ve failed at something, but step out and risk again knowing that he’s in charge of everything anyway.

5) Is God too small to handle problem of death?

It may be that you won’t get the rescue or the healing you want. But if God allows you to go all the way to the grave, then know that his providence doesn’t end at the funeral. We’ll be with him, some sooner, some later.

If that’s his plan for you, then know absolutely that you’re still in the center of his hands and that your rescue will be in the presence of God. That can’t be any loss. You will have gained the best there is. Let’s not forget that this earthly place we’re in at the moment isn’t our permanent home, it’s just a campsite along the way. And there really is something much, much better on the way.

So whether in life or death, you have everything you need for the problem or the plight you face this day. Let me conclude with a few of my favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis:

When you have nothing left but God, then you become aware that God is enough.

He who has God and many other things has no more than he who has God alone.