Is God to souls as we are to cells?
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that God can actually be in touch with us as individuals, to hear our prayers. Even though I felt I my life had been touched and changed by God, I struggled with this concept. In a moment of prayer, as I was searching my own faith, I asked God how he could possibly be in touch with millions or billions of us at once. The small voice of insight came back to me immediately that said just this: “Think of your own body.”
Now this certainly wasn’t an exhaustive explanation, but I suddenly realized that my own body was made up of trillions of cells, each carrying out its own life and work for years. Each is somehow nourished and guided by me, without ever being aware of my role or existence. Much of the time, I exist without being consciously aware of what each of those cells is doing. Yet whenever the least one of those cells cries out to me, I respond to care for it. It could be that a grain of dust would scratch my eye, were I not there to cleanse it. It could be that a small rock in my shoe would slowly tear the cells in the sole of my foot, were I not there to remove it and save them. It could be that a sore muscle would be further damaged, were I not there to lift the burden from it and give it rest. No, it wasn’t an exhaustive answer, but it was enough of an insight to see that if I could care for trillions of cells, God could very well care for billions of souls. It was just enough of an answer for me to continue in my faith.
This is just a very small example of how I believe God communicates with us. It also illustrates the need to know how to listen. This answer or “insight” may not hold any a special meaning for everyone, but when it happened to me, it seemed like it was coming from outside my own sphere of thoughts and understanding. It gave me only a limited understanding of God, but a great appreciation of Him and a great sense of insight and peace. It truly was all I needed to get past my momentary barrier to faith. Just as when your body cries out to you, or when a newborn baby cries for its mother, I think God reaches out to us most when we cry out to him, and are willing to listen and wait for his healing touch.
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.
Psalms 57:2“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-29