How Big is God?

A man on the radio the said the other day, "The way you see God affects all aspects of your life.  If you see God as big, then you're problems will be small in comparison, but if you see God as small then you may think you have big problems."

The other day I was hanging out with some friends and the conversation turned to pets and how they worried about their pets when they went on vacation.  One couple admitted that they worry so much about their dogs that they stopped taking vacations all together.  This surprised me quite a bit, I'm used to people worrying about money, or sickness, or jobs, but this was the first I'd heard about worrying over a pet's well being while on vacation.  Several people in the group admitted to this same concern.

In times past, or in places not inundated with abundance, people worried over basic necessities, would they have enough food to eat, or clothing to wear?  But now, a lot of people whose basic necessities are met, are worrying over other things.  I too have done quite a bit of worrying over things that in the grand scheme of things don't really matter all the much.

In the Bible I'm sure you'll recall that Jesus said this about worrying, [Matt 6:25-33] "²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

When it comes to our relationship with God, it is normal and expected to see ourselves as helpless children and to see God as our Father who provides everything for us including our very life and breath.  In fact to not have this perspective is very hurtful to God, because He loves to provide for us and created us to be totally dependent on Him.  

Here is what Jesus says to St. Faustina in her Diary about this subject. "Distrust on the part of souls is tearing at My insides.  The distrust of a chosen soul causes Me even greater pain; despite My inexhaustible love for them they do not trust Me.  Even My death is not enough for them.  Woe to the soul that abuses these [gifts.]" 

As we can see Jesus takes it very personally when we worry and fail to place our trust in Him.  So I ask again how big is God?  If you believe God created everything that is in existence including the entire universe then you believe in a big God, an eternal, unending, amazing God!  It is true that many circumstances and events can cause us big worries, so it is important to practice placing our trust in God with our little worries, that way when bigger worries come our way we will know right away how to surrender our worry to the Lord, because we will be in habit of doing so.  

If you think that maybe because you're a Christian you will not have any problems, guess again.  It is through trials that we learn to trust and love God and our neighbors.  When I start thinking, why would God allow problems to befall me if I am faithful to him?  It helps to think about Jesus, His parents could not find a inn when Mary was nine months pregnant ready to have the baby and Jesus was born in a barn!  If the King of the Universe was allowed to be born in a barn, then those of us who had the privilege of being born in a hospital or loving home better starting counting our blessings starting with our birth!  Every life will experience some sort of trouble or trial, some are big some are small, but all can be offered to God and he can transform the bad into something good.  

An example of this is one of my cousins.  One of his daughters died of cancer when she was only a teenager.  This was tragic and heartbreaking for everyone, many years latter however he decided to start his own non-profit to help other kids with cancer and their families.  He has helped so many people and is a real inspiration to others!  I think it is unlikely that this would have happened without the prior experience of tragedy.  I don't think that God took his daughter because he knew it would cause her father to help others, rather I think God was able to work a great good out of something we see as a tragedy.  

So let us start learning to trust in God, when you feel a worry coming on, say "Jesus I Trust in You."  You may have to say this many times a day or even an hour, but eventually you will start to believe it, and when you do your worry will be replaced with peace and calm no matter what the situation is.  May God bless you all.