Expanding the Box: Growing in Our Understanding of God
One of the subtle but profound struggles we face as believers is this: We are trying to comprehend the incomprehensible. We long to know and understand God, to follow Him with our whole heart, yet we are limited. As finite creatures, we cannot fully grasp the infinite God. And so, whether we realize it or not, each of us “puts God in a box.”
Now, to be clear, God Himself is never truly confined by our limitations. But our conception of God—what we believe about Him, how we imagine His power, love, justice, mercy, and involvement in our lives—is often too small. It is limited by our experiences, our traditions, our intellect, and sometimes our fear.
But here’s the beautiful part of the Christian journey: a life of following Jesus is, in many ways, a life of growing in the knowledge of God. It’s the process of steadily enlarging that “box”—learning to see more of who He is, marveling at His greatness, and allowing that expanding understanding to transform who we are.
Jairus: When the Box Gets Taller
Consider Jairus, the synagogue official whose story is told in Mark 5. He came to Jesus with great faith, believing that the Lord could heal his daughter who was “at the point of death” (Mark 5:23, NASB). That’s a bold move—especially for someone in a religious leadership position who might have faced scorn for seeking out Jesus.
But when his servants came and told him, “Your daughter has died; why bother the Teacher further?” (Mark 5:35), his heart surely sank. Healing the sick? Yes. But raising the dead? That wasn’t in Jairus’ “box” yet.
Jesus, seeing the fear in his eyes, responded, “Do not be afraid, only believe” (v. 36). And then Jesus did the unimaginable—He took the girl by the hand and said, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” and she got up and began to walk (v. 41–42). Jairus’ understanding of who Jesus is and what He is capable of just grew taller. The “height” of his box had been lifted.
Peter: When the Box Gets Wider
Another example appears in Acts 10, when the Apostle Peter receives a puzzling vision. A sheet descends from heaven filled with all kinds of animals, including those considered unclean according to Jewish law. A voice tells him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” (Acts 10:13). Peter protests—he has never eaten anything unholy or unclean. But God replies, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy” (v. 15).
Peter’s vision wasn’t just about food—it was about people. Soon afterward, he is called to visit Cornelius, a Roman centurion and a Gentile. By the end of the encounter, Peter proclaims:
“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.” (Acts 10:34–35, NASB)
The width of Peter’s box expanded. He began to grasp more of the breadth of God’s love—one that extends across ethnic, cultural, and religious boundaries.
The Crowd: When the Box Gets Deeper
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said something astounding:
“But even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.” (Matthew 10:30–31, NASB)
To the crowds listening—ordinary people, often overlooked—this was radical. That God knows even the smallest detail about their lives? That He cares so intimately and personally? The depth of their understanding of God was being stretched. He is not just powerful and just—He is near. Attentive. Tender.
Enlarging the Box: A Lifelong Journey
These stories—and many others like them—remind us that our view of God matters deeply. A.W. Tozer famously said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
If we view God as distant, we will live with anxiety and self-reliance.
If we think He is limited, we will live with diminished faith.
If we believe He is uninterested in the details of our lives, we will struggle to bring our whole selves before Him.
But when our view of God grows, we grow.
Our prayers become bolder.
Our obedience becomes deeper.
Our hope becomes stronger.
Could Our Future Joy Be Linked to This?
Here’s a final, speculative thought—one that’s not a doctrine, but a possibility worth pondering.
Scripture teaches that there will be differing levels of reward in the next life. Jesus spoke of this in parables (e.g., Luke 19:11–27), and Paul wrote:
“Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become evident… If anyone’s work remains, which he has built on it, he will receive a reward.” (1 Corinthians 3:12–14, NASB)
We also know that eternal life is described as knowing God:
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3, NASB)
What if the extent to which we can enjoy God in eternity—our ability to fully appreciate His glory—is shaped in part by how well we come to know Him now? What if the process of enlarging our “box” in this life doesn’t end with greater understanding alone, but also prepares us for deeper worship, richer fellowship, and fuller joy in the age to come?
Again, this is not a doctrine, but a wonder-filled possibility. At the very least, we know that drawing closer to God now is always worth it—both for this life and the one to come.
Conclusion: Keep Enlarging the Box
You will never outgrow the need to grow in your understanding of God. That’s not discouraging—it’s liberating. There is always more to discover, always more to be amazed by, always more to love. And as we grow, our lives will be increasingly shaped by the One who is beyond all we can ask or imagine.
So ask the Lord to help you enlarge the box—
Grow in height: trust Him for greater things.
Grow in width: embrace the wideness of His love.
Grow in depth: receive His intimate care.
And as you do, may your life reflect the greatness of the God who cannot be boxed in.