Find Your Awe
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! (Psalm 33:8)
In the 1990s, two years in a row, I had the pleasure of going to Israel. I felt such awe, being able to visit the sites, smell the spices in the old city, and witness the greenery at the Sea of Galilee. I felt awe in knowing that for the rest of my life, I would read Scripture and be able to visualize many of the places of which the Bible speaks. Whenever there is a closeness with God, the only response is awe.
The word “awe” is a Biblical word. So, when I saw an article in the Washington Post discussing awe, I had to read more. In “Why it is awesome that your brain can experience awe,” Richard Sima informs the reader that “Experiencing awe is associated with lower stress and inflammation levels, and a higher sense of meaning and connection.” The way to a healthy emotional life is found in God because awe is foundational in experiencing God. Sima describes awe as “little earthquakes in the mind.”
These little earthquakes in the mind are God shaking our consciousness with divine recognition. Our mind tries to regularly limit our perspective of the world so we are not continually overwhelmed. It takes a real internal earthquake to shake our brain out of its natural inclination to modify perception. In widening our vision, awe makes us feel small but positive. Wonder helps us affirm that our frustrating existence isn’t all there is to life. There is something more significant to life; as Christians, we know that our Triune God is something greater.
Today, take a quiet moment and think about moments in your life when you felt the Spirit bless you with a feeling of wonder. Knowing what triggers your mind to see awe-inspiring sights will help you learn how God speaks to you personally. Not everyone experiences awe the same way. When I look at most abstract art, I am left cold. Yet, other artistic expressions can stop my soul in its tracks. Meanwhile, others are deeply moved by the abstract that fails to touch me. Finally, pray for God to help you recognize what brings you wonder and find ways to step into the fullness of the divine.