So what if God exists... I need proof

So what if God exists? What difference does that make? We all want to be certain, we all want proof, but the kind of proof that we tend to want -- scientifically or philosophically demonstrable proof that would silence all doubts once and for all -- would not in the long run, I think, answer the fearful depths of our need at all. For what we need to know, of course, is not just that God exists, not just that beyond the steely brightness of the stars there is a cosmic intelligence of some kind that keeps the whole show going, but that there is a God right here the thick of our day-by-day lives who may not be writing messages about himself in the stars, but who in one way or another is trying to get messages through our blindness as we move around here knee-deep in the fragrant muck and misery and marvel of the world. It is not objective proof of God's existence that we want but, whether we use religious language for it or not, the experience of God's presence. that is the miracle that we are really after. And that is also, I think, the miracle that we really get.

-- Frederick Buechner, The Magnificent Defeat

What's your small god?

Many of us place most of our trust and self-esteem on "small gods" in our life. We worship the god of the sweet ride, the super-clean-magazine-perfect house, perfect body, clothes, money... whatever it is... we're all guilty of it.

Here are some key things to remember:

• The approval of other people can't feed your soul. So don't misplace your trust in people or things around you.
• Small gods are easier to control. That's why we turn to them when we feel like life is getting tough. We say, if I just had more money; if I just worked out more, I'd have the perfect body; if I just redecorated more, people would love my place and be impressed, if I could just buy those shoes, I'd fit in.... 
• We make sacrifices to our small gods but we don't realize it. How many times have you made sacrifices to your small gods? If I just worked 4 more hours of overtime, I'd be that much richer; if I just exercised 3 times everyday, I'd be that much more beautiful; if I just redecorated my place again people would envy me... Sometimes, the sacrifice we pay is emotional. We beat ourselves up when we don't stand up to our perfect ideals in our head. To the point where we spend our lives trying to achieve perfection in a world where nobody is perfect. If nobody's perfect, then why are you killing yourself?
• No small god has brought you too far. It's all a lie. Whatever you might think, money did not get you far in life; beauty did not get you far in life; perfection did not get you far in life.... stop clinging to the things you feel you can control life with. Because the truth is life will never be completely without hiccups no matter what small god you have.
• God, the one Living God, Jesus Christ, doesn't exist to make your life easy. So don't feel like just cause your Christian your life should be perfect either... because that's unrealistic. Acts 14: 22 "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." Remember even though life is not going to be easy, God will be with you every step of the way and when you cry out, He will listen.
• Turn from the quest of the easy life to the guarantee of eternal life with God or you will yearn for the rest of your life. Realize that what you seek in your small gods will not satisfy your soul. There will always be something else your soul will yearn for. Quench your soul with the love and grace of the Living God, the God who accepts you for who you are, mistakes and all, and lovingly leads you back into His arms and comforts you.