Needed: A Big God

I was awakened by a pre-dawn phone call (which are never good) to find out that a friend's mother had died.

I lay there praying for them and then for other friends who are...

-selling a home and moving

- trying to sell a home having already moved elsewhere
- are unemployed with few prospects

- have broken relationships

- struggles in the workplace

- one with a mother in intensive cancer treatments and custody battles for her grandson

- are waiting for biopsy results on a newly discovered brain tumor

And each one of these are "big" things that encompass much more emotion and angst than a single sentence description.

This is not the world; this does not take into account the starving children in 3rd world countries or war in the middle east. These are just the trials of friends closest to me and collectively they're overwhelming. They are tsunamis that come in unannounced. They sweep you off your feet and wash you far into the depths and then come in and destroy the structure of your life.

Being "positive" will not impact these issues. Saying repeatedly that "everything will be okay" will not be sufficient. A big God is needed who can both rescue one from the powerful, repeatedly crashing surf, and rebuild what has been lost.

"Who else has held the oceans in his hand?" Isaiah 40:21

"The mighty oceans roar like thunder; the mighty oceans roar as they pound the shore. But mightier than the violent raging of of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore - the Lord above is mightier than these!" Psalms 93:3,4

"You are the One who rules the oceans. When their waves rise in fearful storms, you subdue them...Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength...O Lord God Almighty! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, Lord? Faithfulness is your very character." Psalms 89: 9,13, 8

"How can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak...Those that wait upon the Lord will find new strength." Isaiah 40: 27-31

"I am holding you by your right hand - I, the Lord your God. And I say to you,'Do not be afraid for I am here to help you'." Isaiah 41:13

"But now the Lord who created you says;"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble. I will be with you. When you go through river of difficult, you will not drown...you are precious to me. you are honored, and I love you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Isaiah 43:1-5

We have a big God; may He give us the eyes to see that and the faith to hold onto it.