Is God That Big?

Not so long ago, a friend (let’s call

her “Sarah”) approached me with the type of news that many of us have either heard or even shared ourselves: Sarah had lost her job. Losing employment isn’t on the same earth-shattering level as some bad news, such as, say, cancer or the death of a loved one. However, it can certainly feel that way when you’re in it. Our jobs aren’t who we are, but they do make up a considerable portion of our lives. Many of us spend more time with coworkers than with family. For some, coworkers are a kind of family. To make matters worse for Sarah, she’d also been notified that the other position she’d been eyeing was no longer available. In an instant, her future became one giant question mark.

If you’ve been in Sarah’s shoes before, you know how devastating it feels, especially in the moment. She was on the road to success, only to come to a complete standstill. Road closed ahead. Despite attempts at encouragement from friends, the hurt persisted, and the tears continued to fall. A question swam nonstop through Sarah’s head: What is going to happen?

A few days later, Sarah went on a walk (one of the most therapeutic things we can do sometimes) and spent that time on the phone with a friend who lives 3,000 miles away. Let’s call this friend “Allie.” Allie’s words of comfort and encouragement continued to come back to one theme: Believe. When you’re in the thick of it, such a broad expression might come across as trite, but Allie pushed further in.

“Believe,” Allie said. “God has you, and He will work this out.”

Sometimes it’s a blessing in disguise to have a friend who can put things so plainly, so beautifully simple. Only this blessing wore no disguise. As Allie rallied her friend’s faith, Sarah glanced down as she walked. Something caught her eye. She stopped.

Lying on the ground was a peculiar-looking stone that someone had painted blue. Sarah picked it up, then stood in shock as she read the one word painted across the stone:

BELIEVE

Imagine what the rest of that phone conversation must have been like. Were there squeals? Tears of joy? Questions filled with equal parts excitement and bewilderment? Any of those would be normal for most of us. Did that tiny moment on a random walk fix Sarah’s situation?

It did not.

Did it give her all the answers?

It did not.

Maybe what Sarah needed in that moment wasn’t all the “answers” but rather a simple reminder that God is with her. All she has to do is believe He is there, and He has not forsaken her. The fact that a close friend (whose time difference “randomly” allowed her to be on the phone in those very minutes) was able to share the moment is icing on the cake. It’s yet another reminder that God puts us in community with other believers to help us do just that: Believe.

Is this how the God of the universe works? Such simple, small situations that can alter our thinking and even our faith? Is it all just a coincidence? Fate, maybe? Or is it a clear picture of God at work in the world He created and adores? Is God really that big?

Sarah’s anecdote can push us to ask these questions for ourselves. If God does work that way, how often are we recognizing it? Do I really believe when the going gets tough? Most of us, if we call ourselves Christians, would answer “yes” to these, at least intellectually. To deny it would be to make God smaller, less powerful. Yet sometimes we can’t help but walk in weakness of faith. Thankfully, God’s grace is big enough for that, too.

Now you may be wondering if the point here is to go peeking behind every bush, under every rock for special messages from God. Not necessarily. Do that long enough, and you may find yourself living in the land of Spookville, where you’re questioning everything as a potential “sign.” But there are grains of truth in it, isn’t there?

God does, after all, control everything in His creation. The galaxies, the mountains, the oceans, and every stone lying on the road (including the hand-painted ones). Maybe it’s just a matter of having childlike faith—a faith that says to yourself:

God is here.

He’s good.

He will take care of me.

Maybe it’s that simple. And if it is, then we are free to live in a posture that says, “Lord, speak. Your servant is listening.” He will help you and me notice things we need to see, when we need to notice them. When we walk with this kind of faith, the answer to the question “Is God that big?” becomes a bit clearer. He’s not only that big; He’s infinitely bigger. Bigger than our job situations, bigger than our tears, bigger than any sign up ahead that says “Road closed,” whether literally or metaphorically.

God’s Word promises us that He causes eyes to see and ears to hear. He knows what’s up ahead on your road and mine, just as he knows what was on the road behind us. He knows what’s off each of those exits ahead, and what chapter of our story will unfold no matter which one we take. He is really big enough to steer you along that road, and to finish the good work that He has promised—not just in your circumstance, but in you.

Thank God that He loves us, and when we struggle to believe, His words still ring true:

“Fear not, for I am with you always.”

If you need space to discern how God might be speaking to you, let's sit and chat. My consultations are free, and it would be a joy to hear your story.

Peace, friend.

-Rob