Day 16: Get Close to Big Things

• Transcript

  One day we were fishing off the coast when this massive whale launched out of the water — 20 metres from the boat.
  It scared the life out of us… but it was also so flipping awesome.

  My gut reaction? Laugh. Yell. Hug something.
  It was just so magnificent.

  What made it amazing wasn’t just how big it was — but how close it got.

  There’s something in us that longs to get close to big things.
  We want to climb mountains, jump out of planes, surf massive waves, and stare into volcanoes.
  Why?

  Because we’re wired for awe.

  I think it’s because we’re made in God’s image — and we crave connection with something far bigger than ourselves.

  The best part?
  God is that. Huge. Glorious. Powerful.
  But also accessible. Arms wide open.
  Inviting us to come closer.

Let’s Talk

There are moments that punch through the mundanity of life.
Moments where the ordinary splits open and you catch a glimpse of something massive.

A whale breaching. A lightning storm. A worship song that wrecks you.
These moments remind us: we were made for God’s glory.

And not just to watch it — but to live in relationship with it.

We talk a lot about the kindness and nearness of God (and rightly so), but let’s not forget — God is wild, Untameable, Mind-blowing and Glorious.
He is the kind of Being who speaks galaxies into existence… and still wants to speak to you.

That’s crazy!

And yet, so many of us walk around as if God’s far off. Bored. Cold. Silent.

But He’s not.

He is closer than the air we breathe and at the same time, he is massively glorious. The God of burning bushes, mountaintop thunder, and empty graves.

Let that wreck you in the best way.

When you feel small — good! You were never meant to be the biggest thing in your story.

Scripture

“Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour… Everything in heaven and earth is yours.” — 1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV)

This verse is a doxology — a spontaneous eruption of praise from David, recognising that all things belong to God. Not just the grand things like kingdoms and stars, but the everyday things too: our breath, our battles, even our boredom.

Eugene Peterson, in his pastoral reflections, often reminded readers that worship isn’t an escape from reality — it’s a deeper dive into it.

In a world where we often feel like we have to hold everything together, this verse gives us permission to let go. Peterson called this kind of prayer “the practice of sanity” — a way to remind our anxious souls that we are not the centre, and that’s such good news.

Mental Health Moment

When you’re caught in the mental grind — stuck in fear, shame, or spirals of overthinking — awe can be an unexpected but powerful antidote.

It doesn’t erase pain or dismiss struggle. Instead, it reframes it. Awe lifts your gaze. It reminds you that the story isn’t just about your stress, your sin, or your survival. It’s about God — wild, glorious, untameable — and somehow still near.

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “We do not want merely to see beauty... we want to be united with the beauty we see.” That longing — for transcendence, for wonder, for glory — is woven into your soul. And when you encounter it, even in small glimpses, something in you exhales.

In moments of mental chaos, wonder doesn’t fix everything, but it puts things back in perspective.

Sometimes what your anxious mind needs isn’t tighter control. It’s a holy interruption. A flash of beauty. A whisper of glory that says: God is bigger than this.

Practice for Today

Step outside
Find one thing today that makes you go: “Whoa.”

The ocean. A tree. A mountain. Even your own breath.
Let that moment remind you: God is glorious — and near.

Pray this:

“God, blow my mind again. Wake up wonder in me. Help me see Your majesty — and trust that You’re close.”

A Prayer for the Hungry

God of wonder,
I’ve been staring at screens too long, shrinking You down to something small and manageable.
But You’re not manageable. You’re majestic.

Let Your bigness break into my boredom.
Let Your power interrupt my panic.
Let me feel the holy satisfaction of drawing close to glory.

Amen.

Reflection Prompt

What’s one moment where you felt truly in awe of God?
How can you chase that wonder again this week — not just for the thrill, but to remind your heart who’s really in charge?