I think at times on the sovereign power of God and the depth of his love.

I stand amazed that he loves me! I cannot understand his love for me but choose to accept it as a reality in my life. I realize that I am not alone; these thoughts have been the thoughts of many throughout the ages.

When Job was having all of his severe troubles, one of Job’s friends reminded Job of God’s mighty power. Although Job’s friend arrived at a wrong conclusion about Job’s suffering, he made a fairly insightful statement that was appropriate for Job to here. It helped bring Job back to reality. He asked Job this question: “Do you know the mind and purposes of God? Will long searching make them known to you? “(Job 11:7) Job’s friend seemed to sum it all up. None of us in our limited understanding can fathom God’s omnipotence. Therefore many of God’s ways are a mere mystery to us and it is only by faith that we accept them.

A child’s song helps me in understanding that concept. When my grandchildren were just toddlers I bought set of CDs that were songs sung by children for children. We would listen to them in the  car. One in particular CD was titled “Bible Action Songs.”

All those little tunes made for good entertainment when we were in the car. We would sing with the CD and even though I am a little off key, that made no difference to my grandchildren. Singing was singing and we created gleeful fanfare as we rode along. We made joyful noises during my errands. If songs required motions, I would make up the motions with my hands and they would lift up their arms high while sitting in their car seats. After each song was over, they would clap their hands until the next song would begin.

Even today when I hear that CD, many of the melodies stir me — the memories of my childhood days in church choirs, Sunbeams and youth rally nights on Tuesday nights when the winning church with the most teens present always laid claim to the attendance banner.

Yet one of those songs on the grandchildren’s CD really touches my heart and it is my favorite.

Wide wide as the ocean,

High as the heavens above.

Deep deep is the deepest sea

Is my Savior’s love!

I, though so unworthy,

Still am a child of his care.

For His Word teaches me

That His love reaches me

Everywhere!

When I would listen to that song with the children, it was as if we were all children — listening and singing. Just hearing that song though caused the childlike faith in me to surface once again. 

At this stage in my life, I realize even more vividly that through all these years, God’s love has been the overriding and underlying strength in my life. It has been a wellspring of care, peace and comfort no matter what I have faced. If Christ’s love could be measured in words, I have no utterance to describe its depth and no declaration to fathom its height. The little song we sing comes nearer characterizing it as anything I know.

I found that CD again just the other day. Don’t be surprised if you see me in the car some day intermediately waving my arms in motion to the words of the song. There is no way I can sit still when it comes to wide as the ocean and high as the heavens above part. I must respond and rejoice in the thought that God loves all his children — no matter what age we are.

Judy Brandon is a Clovis resident. Contact her at: cbrandon@plateautel.net