Who Am I?

Today was a late start day for the boys' school district, so we let them sleep in, and I got our daughter up and ready for school. It's amazing how quickly she can get ready and eat in the morning without any other siblings - she was dressed, had eaten, and was in the bathroom in 35 minutes (it usually takes over an hour!). As we sat at the table eating our breakfast, I looked out the dining room window. The snow was stunning, shimmering on the ground and on the peaks of the homes across the road as the sun rose. I looked and thought to myself that, as impressive as the homes across the road are, they are nothing compared to the beauty and impressiveness of a newly fallen snow.

Just yesterday, one of my colleagues and I were conversing about God's omnipotence and divine plan. He asked me if humanity was really necessary for God's ultimate plan to come to fruition. Does God need us in order for the plan to become reality, or does God simply want us? We talked about several different angles of Scripture. At the end of the conversation, we hadn't resolved anything, but had really grown in our faith. As I looked across the snow-covered lawn this morning, it occurred to me that I can create some amazing things; I can do fantastic ministry; but anything I can do pales in comparison to what God can do. No plans I put into motion have the lasting impact that God's do. I must depend on God in order to do what I do; God doesn't depend on me to do anything, but I do believe that God wants me to participate in moving the plan forward.

More recent Christian musicians have raised questions in lyrics regarding this issue. Casting Crowns, in their hit Who Am I?, shares the amazement that the Lord of all the earth would care to know our names. Addison Road's What Do I Know of Holy raises a similar question: "What do I know of you who spoke me into motion?" God is bigger than I am, and so, whether I sing about it, or look out the window as the sun shines on snow, I know who I am. I am God's child, and the redemption of the world doesn't depend on me; but, God will still use me.