Christian

Aw + Us = Joy

Author: Beth Whitney

Let me tell you a little about the Grand Canyon:

It’s big.

Not just big, it’s enormous. Gigantic. HUGE.

If you’ve been there, you’re nodding your head in agreement. If you’ve never seen it, you probably just rolled your eyes.

But really, it is JUST SO BIG.

When I was 15, our family drove across country, which included a stop at the Grand Canyon. My mom warned us to not take pictures: they just wouldn’t do the canyon justice. But being kids, we took pictures anyway. When those photos came back, we were so disappointed. I will say it: Mom was right.

I could spend the next five paragraphs attempting to explain the enormity of the Grand Canyon to you, but that would be a waste of time. You really have to see it for yourself.

Is that what it’s like to describe God? I could tell you about him, use my limited vocabulary to attempt to explain him. But would that do him justice?  

Words alone don’t have the capacity to contain who God is.

Maybe that’s why we gather on Sundays, to experience God together. Yes, during the week I have moments of personal worship. You probably do too. But when we come together there is something special about being in a room full of my brothers and sisters, standing, clapping, praising. Together we are singing for joy to the Lord.

But let’s go back to the Grand Canyon. As I was standing on the edge of the most impressive thing I had ever seen, I looked from the canyon to my sister and brother, and then back again. We were all exclaiming our awe. The joy contained in those shared moments made the experience that much better. Awe expressed together creates joy. The wonder of the Grand Canyon was more wonderfull because we delighted in it together.

This Sunday, like every Sunday, we’re going to stand on the edge of the Grand Canyon of God’s greatness. If we see together who God is and what he’s done, the awe we share with each other will overflow into joy!

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation....in his hand are the depths of the earth...

Psalm 95:1, 4

See you there?