“I know that God can sometimes feel a million miles away, but He is only a prayer away. All of us go through dark nights of the soul when we doubt our faith. My advice? Don’t just doubt your faith — doubt your doubts. There is an ever-present help in time of need.”- Mark Batterson
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”- Psalm 4 6:1 (NIV)
Mark Batterson continues Chapter 6 of A Million Little Miracles as he underscores that you matter. Above all, you matter to God more than:
- the birds of the air.
- the lilies of the field.
- you can imagine.
In John 11:35, the shortest verse in the Bible, we read that Jesus wept. Two words, Mark stresses, that speak volumes. Because God weeps when you weep. Hence, you matter to God. Or, as Pastor Batterson phrases it, “Every number has a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to God.”
Danish photographer Maurice Mikkers masterminded an art project called the Imaginarium of Tears. Most significantly, the project started when Mikkers stubbed his toe and captured his own teardrops. If you put tears under a microscope, they look somewhat like snowflakes. Each tear looks a little different from the next. And emotional tears contain extra ingredients. They include the stress hormone prolactin, and a natural painkiller called enkephalin.
Therefore, Mari exhorts:
“It’s another one of those microscopic miracles that remind us of how fearfully and wonderfully we’re made. Whether we’re grieving the loss of a loved one or shedding tears of joy, each tear is uniquely precious to God.
In ancient Rome, those who mourned filled [tear catchers made of ornamental glass] with tears and placed them on tombs as symbols of love. The more tears collected the more beloved that person was.
The average person produces . . . more than ten gallons of tears over a lifetime. That’s a pretty big bottle, but each is precious to God Most Nigh.”
Today’s question: What most helps you sense that God is only a prayer away? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “”Solitary conceit side effect”