Mindful Of God

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

For years, I’ve searched for a quick fix to anxiety. When it comes to suffering and sanctification, my flesh yearns for the easy way out. I’d prefer to travel on a paved road fringed with wildflowers, convenient refreshment stands, and rest stops every few miles. But this is not what the road before us looks like most of the time. The path of life is often unpaved, winding, and difficult to navigate.

Paul described suffering as an opportunity to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. He saw his trials as a chance to share in Christ’s sufferings and to become like him in his death (see Philippians 3:10). Amy Carmichael likewise described suffering as a chance to die, the gateway to abundant life.^a

There is no shortcut when it comes to sharing in the sufferings of Christ, and this is true when we face anxiety.

If you were to do an internet search for antidotes to anxiety, you’d quickly come across the concept of mindfulness. While this idea holds merit in terms of reminding us to focus on the present rather than worry about the future, it falls short when it comes to reminding us who we can release our worries to: our Maker and Sustainer. As we traverse the bumpy roads of life, wandering through desert wastelands and winding along mountainous heights, anxiety often tailgates close behind. We fear what might happen and obsess over what’s just beyond the horizon. Being mindful of God brings our focus back to our Creator, who loves us, knows the way we take, and carries us through.

King David was so overcome with the majesty of God that he exclaimed, “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9). David was dumbfounded by the reality of God’s generous care for his people. Awe of God led David to wonder, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4) David was mindful of God, and he was blown away by the reality that God is mindful of him.

Christian mindfulness leads us to greater awe of God, not the emptiness of our minds. It opens our eyes to see God’s handiwork around us and within our hearts, shaping our thoughts to be centered around his grace, not our mistakes and shortcomings.

Are we more mindful of what we fear in the future than we are of the God who sent his Son to die in our place? Are our minds so preoccupied with what might be beyond the horizon that we are missing out on the good things God is unfolding right before our eyes?

Raise your gaze to the heavens, and admire God’s handiwork (see Psalm 19:1). Enjoy fellowship with him through prayer as you navigate life’s twists and turns, and find relief from the pangs of anxiety by filling your mind full of his truth. He is inviting you to be mindful of him—the one who is always mindful of you.

Word before World Being mindful of God brings our thoughts back to the one who holds us, walks with us, and sustains us as we travel the winding paths before us.

Grow in Grace How can you be mindful of God today? Make it your aim to center your thoughts around God’s glory, majesty, and care as you go through your day.