When my grandsons try to walk in their dad’s shoes there is a lot of giggling and tripping as they struggle to keep their feet inside the shoe and actually make forward progress. It isn’t easy filling a big pair of shoes.
As much as the boys enjoy clunking around in dad’s shoes, they simply don’t fit and the reality is, it can be quite risky. However, it is not nearly as dangerous as when we try walking in God’s shoes. Why would anyone want to wear God’s shoes? Well, when God is small, someone has to take on his role, right?
It has been said that if we had God’s power, oh, the things we would do, but if we had his wisdom, we wouldn’t change a thing. Trying to walk in God’s shoes, and taking on his roles, assumes we have both his wisdom and his power. We have neither.
“ ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” – Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
When God is small, fate and chance must be big, and we live as though our circumstances are random. We feel helpless and worthless. We heap the burden of our happiness and fulfillment onto the shoulders of people we love and then we live in resentment when our needs are not met.
When God is small, we think we must be strong, but instead we live in fear of today and tomorrow. We are afraid to commit to people, jobs, ministries, churches or anything else. We are afraid to take a stand. We are afraid to look different. We are afraid to be bold. There is no one to catch us if we fall.
When God is small, we begin to think we are the only one who can fix things and when we can’t, we are anxious and never at rest. We run ahead of a small God and make terrible messes of our lives. We waste the day and much of the night scheming and plotting to get ahead or get our way. Our spirits long for quiet.
When God is small, we are afraid to trust anyone but ourselves. Therefore, we settle for small unfulfilled relationships while we desire so much more. We are afraid to be vulnerable and and we hide our deepest sorrows, hopes and dreams.
When God is small, there is no one to pray to, so we don’t. We assume a small God is too busy trying to fix all the big things and doesn’t have time for us, doesn’t care about us, or simply doesn’t see us.
When God is small, we try to figure out ways to save ourselves. There is no security in our salvation.
Does this describe you? Open your eyes and look down – whose shoes are you trying to wear?
God is not small! Open your eyes and look up!
“The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.” – Psalm 97:1-6 NIV
A big God establishes worth.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1 NIV
A big God alleviates fear.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.’ He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day.” – Psalm 91:1-2, 4-5 NIV
A big God calms anxiety.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
A big God is trustworthy.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” – Ephesians 3:20 NIV
A big God hears and answers prayer.
“Listen to me… you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” – Isaiah 46:3-4 NIV
A big God is salvation.
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” – Hebrews 7:25 NIV
If your God is small, is it because you have usurped his role in your life and made him small? Today would be a great day to step out of God’s shoes and relinquish them back to God. Will you step back and let God be the big, mighty, majestic Almighty God that he is?
Marcia Furrow 
God will do his work. We just need to let him.
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