The Barista Tales - Part 1: An Infinitely Intimate God
- toricorbo
- Jan 31, 2020
- 5 min read
About a year ago, I became a coffee barista.
I can distinctly remember the time I was first learning how to steam milk. There’s so much to think about, it can feel a little overwhelming!
How am I holding the pitcher? Is angled just right? I really don’t want that steam wand to burn me. What if I steam for too long? What if it explodes in my face? What if it’s too hot or not hot enough? Is that what micro-foam is supposed to look like?
And if that wasn’t enough, on top of all the questions running through my head and the prayers I’m sending up simultaneously, a sweet coworker of mine is asking me a plethora of questions!
“Hey! How’s it going? How are you? Are you liking being a barista? Do you have siblings? What are your parents like? Do you have any hidden talents? What do you want to do with your life in the next five years? Am I asking too many questions?”
It was like Vogue’s 73 Questions and I was the guest. My coworkers and I laughed. They all retorted jokingly at Mr. Question Master, “YES!”
I quickly nodded, flustered, and a little red in the face with my brain reaching over-capacity. So, in the kindest way I could, I replied, “I’m sorry! I will answer your questions as soon as I’m done steaming this milk!”
But all of us laughed together, including Mr. Question Master. Each of these sweet baristas understood because they had been there, too! It sure is hard to multitask when you’re learning something new (and trying not to singe your hand off at the same time!). I was thankful for their ability to relate to me and show me that grace I needed as the new-bee.
Isn’t it amazing that we have a God Who cannot be flustered? Who never grows tired, overwhelmed, or exhausted? It is comforting to know that the God Who holds the whole universe He created in His hands holds each of us, too. I, on the other hand, until I learned how, could barely hold a steam pitcher my hands and have a conversation at the same time! I am imperfect, prone to wander and to procrastinate, to fret and get frustrated. I cannot be the god of my world. When control is in my hands, the chances of failing are pretty fair, I’d say 100%. So, here I am! Willingly and openly admitting that I don’t know everything! So, why not trust the God Who does?
"If God is the Creator of the entire universe, then it must follow that He is the Lord of the whole universe. No part of the world is outside of His lordship. That means that no part of my life must be outside of His lordship."
~ R. C. Sproul
He is the One holding me and you in His strong, perfect, everlasting love. He is the One Who fashioned and formed every single one of us in His image - that’s over 7.7 billion (and counting!) beautiful and unique ways we can see God. He designed every star in every galaxy, and every atom in every molecule of every human. He knows your name, and He knows you better than you know yourself.
“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.... You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
~Psalm 139:1, 5-6
“Throughout the Scriptures God is held up as one who can count the humanly uncountable: clouds, sand, streams, the length of heaven, stars, etc. Faith does not make clear all mysteries, but it is consoling to believe that a loving God knows the answers.”
It is difficult for my mind to wrap around all of this! Honestly, I feel a little ‘all-over-the-map’ as I write. Not a bad problem to have: trying to comprehend and describe how absolutely wonderful God is!
But, I’m human and God’s ways and thoughts are, indeed, higher and greater. The reasons to praise Him are endless. I think Job says it best when describing how incredible our God is:
“These are just the beginning of all that He does,
merely a whisper of His power.
Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of His power?”
(Job 26:14 NLT)
We have an infinite God. We have an intimate God. He’s infinitely intimate.
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
~ Ephesians 3:18-19
How marvelous is it then that God’s greatest desire is you! He loves you with the most powerful love, and He wants to have a personal, intimate relationship with you. God is not mad at you, and He’s not too busy for you. Nothing is too difficult or too hard for Him - not even you. It does not matter what you’ve done in the past or what you will do. All He wants is you and to love you.
So let Him. Let Him love you and take care of you. He does this for a living! Our God is a big God and, oh, how He has a BIG love for you! Let God be God, and you be loved, child. He’s got this, and He’s got you, too.
“What is the value of your soul to God?....God doesn’t abandon or forget even the small sparrow he has made. How then could he forget or abandon you? What about the seemingly minor issues of your life? Do they matter to God? Of course they do! So you never need to worry, for you are more valuable to God than anything else in this world.”
~ Jesus [Luke 12:6-7 (TPT)]
Resources
hand-picked just for you
Music
Worthy of it All by David Brymer and Ryan Hall (The words to this song can be found in Romans 11:36; I like The Passion Translation, too!)
So Will I (100 Billion X) by Hillsong United (Chills. Every. Single. Time.)
Awesome God by Rich Mullins (this is a classic!! I used to listen to this song all the time as a kid!)
Indescribable by Chris Tomlin
Messages
Scripture Reading (if you want to go deeper!):
-“Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?” [Isaiah 40:13]
-“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place…” [Job 38:12]
-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?
~~~
The Barista Tales shall return in future posts.
Comments