One Star, Out of 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

There are an estimated 10 to the 24th power stars in the known Universe. This means the number has 24 zeros after the digit 1. It is also known as one septillion.

It gets deeper. There are many more stars than there are grains of sand on the Earth. And there are seven quintillion, five hundred quadrillion grains of sand on this third rock from the sun.

And deeper still, just ten drops of water contain more molecules than all the stars in the Universe. Ten drops! Imagine what is in the oceans! FYI: You can’t. (Estimate is 4.92 × 10 to the 46th power–and that’s not counting all the life forms living in them!)

Is your mind officially blown yet? Consider this: God knows each star, grain of sand, and molecule. And even more remarkably, He knows each one of us intimately. He even knows how many hairs are on your head right now. They are all numbered. I personally think this refers not just to the total number, but the number assigned to each individual hair.

Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. (Mat 10:29-31 NLT)

This is more detail than we care to know. He knows more about us than we could know with the most sensitive diagnostic equipment in existence. Now, multiply this detail by the almost 8.3 billion people breathing air right now as you read this.

Taken all together, it makes it beyond our ability to comprehend that God knows us individually and intimately. He knows not only this detail but everything you have ever done, are doing, and will do for whatever time you have remaining on this planet in this life and reality.

This brings new appreciation for David’s words in Psalm 139:14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (NIV) “I am fearfully and wonderfully made …”

Yes, we are, more than we can understand. Knowing all this, how could we doubt God? I’m not sure how we do … but we do. Every day. In so many horribly creative ways.

Perhaps we all should rethink our faith and trust in God and our relationship with Him. After writing this message, I assure you that I am. Will you join me?