How to Know a God Enormous Beyond Comprehension
I nestle into my favorite lawn chair–a hammock one with a slight swing. The front yard is quiet aside from the chirrup of birds, the hum of lawn mowers, and an occasional plane overhead.
This morning, I can’t get the incomprehensible enormity of God off my mind.
A God Enormous Beyond Comprehension
How big is God? we might ask. In 1 Corinthians 1:21, Paul tells us:
For in God’s deep wisdom, He made it so that the world could not even begin to comprehend Him through its own style of wisdom.
– The Voice
In other words, God’s too vast for us to articulate. Too big to fit inside the human brain. Too enormous to fully comprehend.
The Psalmist describes God like this:
Our Lord is great. Nothing is impossible with His overwhelming power.
He is loving, compassionate, and wise beyond all measure.
It’s because God is impossible for us to wrap our minds around that He can make all things possible for the good of those who revere Him (Romans 8:28).
He sees the eternity-wide expanse whereas we can only see what’s in our periphery. He knows the entire story arch and the most minute details about each character.
God’s not an unfeeling, faraway God, though. Not a power-hungry tyrant or stoic and stern. Our all-wise God is also unsurpassed in love and compassion.
How big is God? Enormous!
Do We Want God to Be Smaller?
But perhaps, like me, you find that your view of God can become too small.
Sometimes, in the throes of busyness and multitasking, I elevate my role and dismiss His. I clench my fists around what’s not mine to control. I assume responsibility, as if it’s up to me alone to ensure happiness or excellence. I deny I need help–God’s or anyone else’s. Through my actions, if not also my words, I say I can handle it by myself.
Other times grief, disappointment, or discouragement seem to dwarf God. The problems take precedence and I forget God’s presence always brings peace. I wrongly focus on what I can’t fix instead of keeping my gaze on Jesus – and whatever gets my attention appears larger.
When I esteem God too lightly, I find Him less invested, less approachable, less magnificent, less capable than He actually is. A wrong view of God affects my prayer life because rather than being drawn to Him in awe, I shuffle Him to the back-burner like He’s less important.
It’s in quiet moments–like this morning, while my kids are at school–that it hits me. Knowing that I can’t fully understand God makes me want to know Him more. His enormity keeps me seeking Him because there is more to know about Him.
Searching God Out
When my kids want to know something, they say to “search it up.” Their inquisitive minds aren’t derailed by lack of knowledge. They trust Google to help them out.
I wonder what would happen if we searched God out rather than assuming the things we don’t understand yet about Him are character dings.
What if our questions–about the wait or the way He answers–moved us toward Him?
Here’s the thing: God wants to be found. He wants us to know Him.
“You will look for Me intently, and you will find Me, “ He assures us (Jeremiah 29:13, The Voice).
We don’t look intently for something we find underwhelming. Rather, the higher we value it the more committed we are to the search. The same thing happens with God.
Before we can know God, we’ve got to find Him.
Before we can find God, we’ve got to search for Him.
Before we will search for Him, we’ve got to see Him as pursuit-worthy.
And in order to deem Him priceless, we’ve got to be overwhelmed by His enormity.
If God were as small as us, we wouldn’t need Him. But because He’s incomprehensibly enormous, He can see beyond and before and beneath. He’s both “dynamic power and . . . deep wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:24, The Voice). There is nothing too difficult for Him to solve, too deep for Him to heal, or too broken for Him to redeem.
How to Get to Know an Enormous God
What does it look like, practically, to search God out?
First, let’s commit to not overcomplicating it. We have access to God as we are. Fancy words, a theology degree, or a stack of Bible commentaries are not required.
What is? Simply an open mind and a soft heart.
The posture matters far more than the method. Seek God expecting to find Him. Lean into trust even while you have unanswered questions.
Here are a few ways to “search God up.”
1–Google “Bible verses about . . .”
If there is something you’re curious to know about God, ask Google for Bible verses to help you find answers. Remember to read the context around a particular verse so you’re not misled or confused.
2–Look up verses around your question in a topical index.
Many Bibles have an index of sorts where you can find verses via a list of alphabetized topics. Again, remember to back-up for context and read some before and after the verse noted in the index.
3–Ask God directly.
God welcomes your sincere questions–even the angry-honest ones. He promises to give us wisdom if only we’ll ask (James 1:5). So take your questions straight to Him. Write them in a journal or whisper them as a prayer. Then take time to listen.
4–Ask people you trust.
That’s where community comes in. You and I aren’t meant to walk this faith journey alone. As fellow sojourners, we can help each along the way.
Maybe you need encouragement to keep seeking God in the areas about Him you don’t understand yet, or you’d welcome coaching on how to apply a Bible verse. Ask someone whose relationship with God you trust–a friend, neighbor, leader, or family member committed to growing in Christ-likeness.
A Prayer of Blessing as You Seek God
May I leave you with a prayer of blessing as you search for the God who longs to be known?
May your smallness lead to stillness – stilled awe at the vastness of God. May your desire to know God grow day by day. May you never stop searching for Him – in your Bible, through your questions, and surrounded by community.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Nurture God-Centered Community in Your Neighborhood
Quick note! If you’d love to have God-centered community right in your own neighborhood, here’s my encouragement for you. Spend some time in your front yard. It’s far easier to meet neighbors if they can see you. Then, as friendships slowly start to grow, embrace them. Let the things God is working out in you seep into casual conversation. Ask Him to guide you as you lean in and take one baby step at a time.
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Just a friend over here in your corner,
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