Have you ever stood gazing at the night sky and felt awe at the millions of shining stars? Or watched a baby laugh and felt moved for no reason? Awe is not just a fleeting emotion. Science calls it awe and the Bible calls it the fear of the Lord or amazement at His creation. Surprisingly, both agree on one thing: awe is very important for our mental and spiritual health.
Awe Lowers Ego and Stress
In psychology, awe is the feeling that arises when we encounter something extraordinarily vast or magnificent, making us feel small yet connected to something greater. Research shows that awe can reduce activity in the part of the brain that regulates self-focus (default mode network), helping us step out of self-centeredness. The result? Stress levels decrease, gratitude increases.
Even research conducted at UC Berkeley found that people who often feel awe have lower levels of cytokines (markers of inflammation). This means that healthy wonder can strengthen our immunity.
The Bible: Awe is a Natural Response to God
Awe is not only healthy but also spiritual. The Bible is full of calls to be amazed. In Psalm 8:4-5, David writes, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place: what is mankind that you are mindful of them?” David’s awe is not just poetry but a form of acknowledgment that there is something far greater than us worthy of honor.
Isaiah also experienced this. In Isaiah 6:1-5, he saw the glory of the Lord in His temple and immediately said, “Woe to me!” Awe of God brought him to self-awareness and the need for grace.
Restoring Our Sensitivity to Wonders
The problem is, modern life often numbs us to the amazing. Everything feels ordinary because it’s too fast and busy. But when we intentionally slow down, watch a tree grow, hear the sound of rain, or realize that our heart beats without our command, we relearn to be amazed.
Christianity invites us to live with eyes open to wonders. Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” This means the surrounding nature can teach us to marvel at God every day.
So, why do we need to be amazed? Because in awe, we are reminded that we are not the center of the world, that life is full of small miracles, and that there is an extraordinary Person behind it all. Awe is not weakness, but the power to worship, be grateful, and live with a heart full of hope.
