“Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
— Jeremiah 2:19 (NIV)
I was reading this verse recently, and that last phrase stopped me in my tracks — “and have no awe of me.”
God is speaking to His people through Jeremiah, reminding them of how far they’ve drifted. They’ve forgotten His goodness, turned to idols, and tried to live life their own way. And right there, in the middle of His heartbreak, He names the root of it all: they’ve lost their awe.
That word — awe — is one we don’t use much anymore. It’s more than being impressed. It’s more than respect. Awe is a soul-deep awareness of God’s power, holiness, mercy, and love. It’s that heart posture that says, “You are God — and I am not.”
And as I read those words, I found myself asking the same question He stirred in me through Jeremiah’s prophecy:
Do I still live in awe of Him?
When Awe Fades
It’s easy to lose our awe without realizing it. Life gets busy, familiar, loud. We start rushing through prayers. We sing the songs but stop thinking about the words. We talk about grace but forget how miraculous it is that we’ve been saved — rescued — loved beyond measure.
And before long, faith becomes routine instead of reverent. We serve out of habit instead of wonder. We see blessings as ordinary instead of evidence of His hand.
It’s not always rebellion that steals our awe — sometimes, it’s distraction.
Awe Restored
But the beautiful thing is — awe can be restored.
When I pause long enough to remember who He is, awe returns:
- When I look at creation and realize He spoke it into being.
- When I think of the cross and realize He chose me anyway.
- When I see His faithfulness in my story, carrying me through seasons I didn’t think I’d survive.
Awe grows in gratitude. It’s watered by remembrance. It flourishes in humility.
And when awe returns, everything changes. Worship feels deeper. Scripture feels alive. Obedience feels like love, not duty.
What It Means to Be in Awe
To be in awe of God is to stand in reverent wonder — to see glimpses of His majesty woven into both the extraordinary and the everyday. Awe is when your heart whispers, “Only God could do that.”
And I see Him — really see Him — in so many moments:
- In sunrises and sunsets, painting the sky with colors no artist could replicate.
- In stars that shimmer in silence, declaring His glory.
- In breathtaking landscapes that make me catch my breath.
- In baptisms and conversions, when hearts are made new.
- In unexplainable provisions — those times when there’s no way it worked out… except God.
- In babies learning to walk, talk, and grow, each milestone a miracle.
- In flying 30,000 feet above the earth, realizing He holds the heavens in His hands.
- In Jesus’ resurrection, where death was defeated once and for all.
- In the Holy Spirit moving during worship, stirring tears, peace, or conviction.
- In random acts of kindness, little reminders that His love is alive in us.
- In reading His Word, where truth leaps off the page and straight into my heart.
Awe doesn’t just belong in mountaintop moments — it blooms in the ordinary, too. Every breath, every heartbeat, every answered prayer is a reason to stand amazed.
A Gentle Heart Check
So I’m asking myself — and maybe you want to ask too:
Do I still stand in awe of Him?
Do I still marvel at His mercy?
Do I still bow my heart before His holiness?
Because when we lose our awe, we lose our anchor. But when we live in awe — we live awake.
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve made You common in my mind. Restore my wonder. Remind me of Your holiness, Your mercy, and Your power. Open my eyes again to see You as You are — worthy, glorious, and good. Let awe rise up in me once more.
Action Step
Take a few minutes today in quiet worship. No requests. No lists. Just gratitude. Whisper praise and let awe fill the silence.