awesome

I don’t remember where I first heard this: the idea that if we say God is awesome, and nothing compares with Him, then how can we say anything else is awesome?

It’s one of a long line of things Christians say that drives me slightly nutty – because it’s completely extremist.

photo courtesy of ©Depositphotos.com / elenathewise

I believe God is awesome.  And I believe there is nothing that compares with Him.  But to use the word ‘awesome’ only to describe Him is a little tough on ‘awesome’, don’t you think?

Because there are a lot of awesome things in the world, like:

• baby chuckles
• double rainbows
• waterfalls
• sunsets

and so many other things.

All that said, I caught myself using the word awesome a lot earlier this week, and I wasn’t always using it to describe things that were actually awesome.  And because I believe that words and their meanings matter, I issued myself a challenge for the rest of this month: quit using the word awesome unless I really mean it.

‘Awesome’, used properly, should have something to do with actual awe.  Anything truly ‘awesome’ should inspire awe.

Here are some of the ways I’ve caught myself using it when I shouldn’t:

• telling someone to “have an awesome day!”, when what I really meant was ‘good’ or ‘great’
• using it as a response to finding out something I need to know: “Awesome – thanks!” when really I’m ‘glad to know’ and not filled with awe at all
• saying it sarcastically: “well, that’s awesome…” (when clearly it’s not)

I’ve been a lot more mindful of my words this week (or at least my adjectives) – and unless I’ve mis-remembered, I think I’ve only used the word awesome once.

       “Can I pray for you about this?”

       “That would be awesome.”

I heard myself say it and was forced to ask myself – was that the right word?  I mean, praying is so normal.

But I was surprised to find myself deciding that actually, yes, ‘awesome’ is the right word.

Because it truly is awesome that God can and does hear the prayers of every single person on the planet – and He not only hears them, but draws near and answers them.  Sometimes prayer can feel rote or dry or normal or routine or whatever – but if we really stop to think about it – it’s actually pretty amazing.

The next time you stop to pray, or someone prays for you – take a minute and let it sink in, what you’re doing.  You’re talking to the God of the entire universe – and He’s listening to you.  That is no small thing.

In fact, you can genuinely say: it’s awesome.