Resting In Nature

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
³ They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
⁴ Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
⁵ It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth

Some people feel God most strongly in the beauty of His creation.  The mountains, the ocean, the night sky — these things speak to us of the greatness of God, and the smallness of mankind.   When we lose ourselves in nature, we feel surrounded by God’s power and we can rest in it.  There is a feeling of safety and protection.  The Ruler of the Universe, the One Who made everything is in control.  We don’t have to worry.

Last week my husband and I went on a road trip.  We drove the entire Skyline Drive, something we had never done before.  I’m not really a mountain person (I prefer the beach) and I don’t usually enjoy “taking a ride” for relaxation,  but I decided this was going to be a time of rest;  not just a rest from the daily routine, but a rest in the wonders of God’s world.  Usually I read in the car, but this time I deliberately used the time to LOOK.  When you do this, you find God all around.  He’s in the deep dark night and the sunrise;  in the dappled red and gold foliage;  in the deer and the squirrels and the people admiring it all.  You just have to slow down and pay attention.

In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul tells us:

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 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, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20

There is no excuse.  God has made Himself plain to everyone.  You can see Him in His creation.  You don’t have to drive the Skyline Drive or travel to the beach– you can walk around your neighborhood, or go to the park.  You can step outside at daybreak or sunset.  Then just LOOK — and know that you can rest in Him.