When I first saw the grand canyon, my eyes were overwhelmed by the scale– my brain could not compute how immense this canyon was. It’s odd because the sky is above me, every day, and it really doesn’t do that to me. My brain imagines a “ceiling” up there painted with stars that are just a bit out of reach. Even though something huge like the universe, or the grand canyon, our brain somehow makes it seem small until we get a particular perspective– then suddenly it appears so big that cannot grasp what we’re experiencing. Nothing’s ever felt as big as the grand canyon felt that first time I saw it– not the Earth, not even the night sky– even though I know that both are much bigger. As I see several people struggling with deaths, hardships, and even current events around the world..I know they’re huge, but when you get right up close to them, your mind somehow loses all sense of scale. This huge issue you’re standing next to seems bigger than anything: bigger than your own life, bigger than family– bigger than God. I totally felt this way when 9/11 happened. It shook me like nothing else ever had. I didn’t know what to think. I was so shaken, I just left work. I ran to the church, I prayed, I cried– I literally felt helpless. In those few days after 9/11, I stepped further and further away from daily concerns and focused on God. Slowly, as I got closer and closer, that sense of awe– that sense of complete incomprehension of the size and importance– turned from the tragedy that had happened, to the God that still stood, unshaken by it all. I started to realize how much bigger his love is than anything I could imagine. It was nearly impossible to process– just like 9/11 had been– but instead of anxiety or fear of the unknown, the experience brought perfect peace– and in the midst of one of the biggest calamities I’d ever witnessed, I experienced joy unspeakable. It made a huge difference in my life. I grew up in church, I was raised in a Christian home, but until that happened, I had never experienced God like that before. Since then, I compare every tragedy, every scary thought, every bad experience to the infinite love of God I experienced after 9/11.
If you’re going through something that has your brain and heart completely broken, I urge you to focus on God. Just like the grand canyon, God is there, 24/7. Just keep moving closer and you will start to get a glimpse of the scale of him– and you’ll learn that he’s 100% love. That love is for you! It’s indescribable, and it’ll change your life for the better. If you don’t know God, I urge you to find a church or that Christian friend you know is strong in the faith, or if all else fails, message me. I’d like to tell you about the God that has never failed me. You can know him too! I promise you, perfect peace is there– for you.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33