One of the things I love about working on a puzzle is seeing the individual pictures, or parts, pop to life. Out of the jumble of individual pieces, a flower suddenly blooms, or a cheetah prowls onto the mat. There is a sense of accomplishment and joy in bringing them to life, “creating them in a sense.
I believe God gets the same joy and satisfaction when he knits together our individual DNA and orchestrates the forming of our bodies in the womb. I imagine he sighs in pleasure when he sees his masterpiece, which he intricately pieced together cell by cell, take its place on the landscape of his tapestry of life.
Recently, my husband had his second hip replaced. I have been busy making ice to keep the swelling down and promote healing. My husband suggested I make larger cubes because they would take longer to melt, so I started making some in small plastic containers. Yesterday I was struck by the intricate pattern the ice had formed in the cube. Fine, crystal fibres stretched out in various lengths, forming what looked like a plant growing inside it. It filled me with amazement and joy.
This is who God is. He takes pleasure in creating, and in creating beauty. He didn’t have to make the world this way, with these small wonders for us to enjoy. He does it because he loves to, and loves to give us pleasure. He also didn’t have to give us the ability to enjoy and marvel in the beauty around us, but he did.
We are made in the image of God.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
Genesis 1:26 ESV
Because of this, we can reason, experience emotions and have a spirit (soul), we can know what beauty is in our own individual ways.
I find beauty in flowers, oceans, and the exquisiteness of classical music. Others experience it in insects and rock music, or rock formations and rap. We are all uniquely made, yet all reflect the image and likeness of God.
What other God is this intimate, or this relational?
He is not a God “out there” who rules remotely and harshly, or who lived and left to experience his own higher happiness. He is a God who cares about his creations, especially his children.
Don’t lose your childlike wonder. It connects you with the God of wonders.
If the kids come home with a creepy crawly that makes your gut clench and body tense, pause, take a breath and then talk to your littles about how amazingly these creatures are created and that God has a purpose for even the tiny.
If your teenagers are whining and bickering, making your teeth clench, put on a show that explains the way DNA is formed, and discuss how miraculous each breath is and how unique each person is.
Life can be hard, exhausting, and frustrating. In some seasons, I have felt like I couldn’t do it anymore. But if you take a deep breath, whisper a quick prayer and look at life around you in childlike wonder, your spirit will be lifted.
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
Isaiah 6:3 NIV
FULL of his glory. Everywhere we look, each face we look into is a reflection of God’s glory and his character. Even the things we aren’t fond of. Everything and everyone has a purpose and a place in God’s grand puzzle. Wait, watch and pray as he brings the fullness of your picture into completion.
Be well!
Patricia