The larger our problems look, the smaller our God will appear.

“The larger our problems look, the smaller our God will appear.”

In February, 2014 I made the statement above in a message on the Children of Israel’s first attempt at entering Canaan. Ten spies confirmed that just as God had said, the Promised Land did flow with milk and honey, but those spies also said the land was filled with giants. Joshua and Caleb confirmed that what the others said was true, but they predicted that God would be with them and the Israelites would overcome the giants (Numbers 13).

Ten spies focused on the size of the problem. Two focused on God.

This difference in perspective is significant in our ability to trust God. I regularly find my thoughts drifting toward the uncertainty of my future.  I sometimes struggle with questions like, “What happens if I get bad news in December regarding the spread of this cancer?”  There are so many difficult questions and there are no good answers.

When I find that I am being overwhelmed by these doubts and fears, I am reminded that I am focusing on my problems and not on God. The more attention I give to this cancer and all of the uncertainty associated with it, the larger the cancer becomes. When I shift my focus to the awesomeness of God, the doubts and fear leave.

As I begin to focus on God, I meditate on the words of Isaiah 6: 1-4

I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

I think about the words in Isaiah 40:12:

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?  Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?

I think about the creation story in Genesis 2 and I imagine God scooping up a handful of dirt while making Adam and breathing life into him.

And then I begin to worship God. The more I focus my attention on Him and His power and His love and the many ways in which He has blessed me in the past, the fears and doubts leave. My God becomes larger and larger in my sight and my problems shrink away.

Where is your focus today? Are you focused on how big your problems are or how big God is?