God is Greater

"Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
   sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own,
   Israel to be his treasured possession.

 I know that the LORD is great,
   that our Lord is greater than all gods."

Psalm 135:3-5

"The secret of the mystery is: God is always greater.  No matter how great we think Him to be, His love is always greater."

Brennan Manning

Sometimes I think I have God all figured out.  In my mind, I believe that I know how things will turn out based on past experiences, or what lessons someone will learn because I discovered a certain truth from a similar incident.  But God constantly surprises me and I have to humble myself and admit that I know nothing about God.

The human mind is not large enough to comprehend the greatness of God.   I can study God my whole life, experience a lifetime of God-encounters and think I have a handle on Him, but I have only scratched the surface.  God is so much more than my puny mind can grasp.

There are many reasons to celebrate the fact that we worship a God who is greater. 

Troubles

Jesus warned us that life would be filled with difficulties and tribulations.  He said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b)  God is greater than anything I can face.  Sickness.  Death.   Financial disaster.  Fear.   Hunger.   Homelessness.   Loneliness.   

He is greater than all these things.  Trusting in Him may not make my troubles go away or my situation improve, but will give me a sense of peace, quiet strength and a hope for better things to come.  If not here on earth, than in heaven with Him.

God is greater than any tribulation I may face.

Evil

I don't think anyone could argue against the fact that the world in which we live is evil.  Just look at how children and animals are treated.  Statistics show that children dying in the United States from the effects of abuse has risen from 3.13 per day in 1998 to over 5 children dying daily at the hand of an abuser in 2010.  But death is not the only consequence of abuse.  Other results include a higher risk of out of wedlock pregnancies in abused girls, an elevated incidence of criminal behavior and incarceration of mistreated and neglected individuals as well as an almost certain development of a psychological disorder of some kind. 

Studies show that where abusers target children, they also victimize pets.  Add to that the flourishing market found for the human slave trade throughout the world, the existence of serial killers, cruel dictatorships and religious warfare and we can easily conclude that we live in an evil world. 

It is easy for me to fall into despair in light of all the suffering going on around me.  But God has a plan.  He did not leave me here without reason!  He placed me here in order that I would shine as a beacon of hope in a dark world.  Jesus shines through me and out to those who are suffering in darkness because He promised to never leave me, even in the most wicked of times. 

God and His plan are greater than all the suffering found in this evil world.

I am His

Perhaps the most astounding thing about God's greatness is that He would choose to relate to such lowly creatures as those He has created.  As a sinful woman who has fallen far short of God's standards, He could easily cast me aside as unworthy of His goodness. 

But His love is greater than that.  In fact He, "demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  Even though He is far greater than my comprehension, He chooses to make a way through faith in Jesus for me to enter into an intimate Father/daughter relationship with Him.

God's love is greater than my sin.

One of my favorite songs is Chris Tomlin's "Our God is Greater."  As you listen, take a moment to meditate on God's greatness which transcends our troubles, overcomes all evil and is great enough to love me as a precious daughter.  God is greater!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will remember His greatness when fear or troubles threaten to overcome me.

When do I take for granted the love God has for me?  How can I better pass that love on to a hurting world?

How can knowing God is greater than anything I can face change the way I handle difficulties?