The Little Things

I have recently become friends with some atheists in one of my college classes.  I know that statement may sound counter-intuitive coming from a rather vocal creationist like me, but I’d rather talk to an atheist any day rather than a compromising Christian.   Being exposed to atheists gives me an opportunity not only to be a witness to them of my faith but also to practice defending my faith by giving a “reason for the hope that is within” me (see I Peter 3:15).  I was thinking recently about the reasons why I know that God exists.  There are, of course, plenty of “big” reasons for believing in God, like the existence of logic and the need for love in humans and the incredible order of our marvelously designed universe.  But, what I thought about more was not how I know about God – that He exists- but how I know God personally.

We could talk about scientific and logical support for the existence of God all day long, but God did not create us merely to think about Him, but instead, to know and love Him.  God is a personal being, not a concept or a theory.  He is my Very Best Friend.  I come to Him to cry, laugh, muse, complain (better to Him than those around us), celebrate, and bask in awe at His holiness and justice.

God is really quite romantic as well – drawing His Bride (His redeemed people) closer to Himself.  Think about it for a minute.  When a young man is trying to win his bride, what kind of things might he do?  Saving her life, of course, would be extremely romantic.  But, it’s not just the big things that matter.  Building trust through little things every day and knowing the strangest little quirks about each other creates the deep, lasting relationship.  According to Beth Moore’s Tabernacle Bible study, A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place (video session 3), one of the aspects of close friendship is small talk.  No one else but your closest friends care to know all the silly little things about you.

When I think back on many of my prayers that God has answered my first reaction is to laugh.  Why laugh?  Because many of my prayers are ridiculus!   I can’t count how many times I have asked God to do the silliest little things for me in the mundane little daily things – yet He answered.  For example, one thing I’ve prayed for more than once goes along these lines, “Lord, You know I hate the loop.  You know I especially don’t like that entrance ramp, right there.  Please don’t let any other come up there when I pass it”, and He does it!  I know God is real, not just because of the big things in my little world, but because God cares about even the smallest details of my life.  I know I can trust God in the big things in my life because I’ve seen the incredible care He gives to the little things.