Touch Grass

“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

I wear a lot of different hats with the many responsibilities I bear. It’s not difficult as long as the trouble stays to one or two things at a time. But when trials bear down on me in every sphere of life, it can overwhelm my soul and lead me toward despair.

In those hard times, it is important to be in the word and prayer. Scripture reminds us of God’s bigger story that spans space and time. It helps put our “light and momentary affliction” (2 Cor. 4:17) into perspective compared to God’s great glory that awaits us.

And prayer is an appropriate response that humbles ourselves before God, acknowledging our desperate need for his grace. It brings empty hands into his presence asking for him to fill us. A prayer in the form of song can lift our spirit heavenward to draw us out of ourselves into a heavenly view of our trouble.

But there is another, less “spiritual,” way of putting your life in perspective: touch grass. Of course, that’s a pithy, coarse way of telling someone to get out of their head, get out of a fantasy world, and live in the real world. But there is truth to its power.

God placed magic in the ordinary world around us to draw us near to him. Looking at the heavens, the moon and the stars (Psalm 8:3) should cause us to think that God is big and we are small. Psalm 19 says “the heavens declare the glory of God” so that we hear that voice and are humbled to receive the perfect law of the LORD.

But immersing ourselves in creation doesn’t just reveal that vast chasm between us and God. It also closes the gap. “What is man that your are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4). God gave us this incredible world to enjoy, that it would provide food and shelter for us.

Psalm 23 shows his Good Shepherd care for us in that he leads us to green pastures and still waters. Creation is both how he shows his transcendence over us and a means of his care for us.

So, sometimes when I’m overwhelmed with life, it is helpful to go touch grass. I’ll go sit in my pasture and watch the chickens make their way back to the coop while the sun sets in the background. I’ll feel the cool, evening breeze on my face and touch the tips of the grass while the cows munch on it in the next pasture over. As I engage creation with all my senses, I’m reminded that God is bigger than all of these things, and in these things I see that he cares for me so deeply.

Brothers and sisters, know that God is big and he loves you. Jesus died and rose from the dead not only to redeem you, but redeem a new creation for you. And even now you can get a glimpse of that world to come when you slow down and listen to his voice in the Scriptures and submit to his glory revealed in creation.

God’s Spirit will carry you through, sometimes by helping you touch grass, so you can be still and know that he is God (Psalm 46:10).

Praying for your peace in his Sovereign goodness,

Adam and the elders