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Beauty In Everything


The God who made the world and everything in it —he is Lord of heaven and earth —does not live in shrines made by hands.

Acts 17:24 CSB

 

        



    What was the last thing you noticed and thought, “Wow, that is beautiful!”? I recently spent an afternoon with two young ladies and while gazing at them I thought, “Wow, they are beautiful!”. They shined with the light of youth, joy, wonder, and excitement. They laughed without concern about what others around them believed. And, they put a lot of toppings on their fro-yo! It was absolutely beautiful to watch them and consider the beauty that is in everything, wherever we may dare to glimpse.


            I believe every person, in their heart, longs to see the beauty in everything. Despite the stage of life we are in or the hardships we may be going through, there is a desire to behold beauty. When we are able to slow down and take in the beauty around us it can both lure and arouse pleasure, delight, joy and even relaxation. Different people at different times may find beauty in music - the words of a poet - the work of an artist - a new born child - the uniqueness of all living creatures - the multicolored hues of a sunset - the brilliance of a sun rise - the majesty of mountain peaks - the melodic sound of a waterfall - the wind rustling through the leaves - the simplicity of a flower - the lightness of a snow flake. There really is no denying or arguing with the fact that beauty is all around us.


            1 Chronicles 29:11 shares this realization of beauty, “Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.” Glory, splendor and majesty are what we see when we take time to behold what is around us. Glory is the word used in the Bible to describe God’s beauty. It comes from the Hebrew word Kabhod and the Greek word Doxa. These words are most often translated as splendor, majesty, and abundance. Of course, they describe God perfectly. The root meaning of the word relates to rarity, beauty, and brilliance. Also, what we would use to describe beauty in the world and for those who know and trust in God, the words we use to depict His presence.


            Yet, all of these descriptions are but tiny flickers and shimmering shadows of the beauty of God that is woven into all of creation. The beauty of God far surpasses any earthly splendor we could ever know. When you see the snow-covered mountains under a vibrant blue sky while sitting on the beach next to a calm, cold lake, the beauty is breathtaking. It is simply unbelievable and exquisite; sometimes completely impossible to communicate. Still, God is more beautiful. Everything about him is beautiful. His power is beautiful. His love is beautiful. His mercy is beautiful. He is the foundation of all beauty in the universe.


            Beauty begins and ends in God. I love this quote from Dr. Craig Nelson, “He signs his name using the brilliant colors and hues of the rainbow” (Genesis 9:13). (Nelson, 2017)[i] Beauty indeed as we look outside after a storm God is present. God is in the world and everything in it because he made it and made it perfectly (Acts 17:24). When we think of beauty, though, we often do think about the difficult things in the world or in our lives. But, beauty exists there as well. When you are sitting in the chair for the 16th chemotherapy infusion it’s hard to notice beauty, but when the chair faces an open window and the chickadees are raiding the feeder, there is beauty even in chemo. Or when your hair comes back curlier, fuller, and more striking than ever, there is definitely beauty. Or when you just don’t know how you can continue of after a nasty divorce because the bills aren’t getting paid and the car isn’t running, you see the beauty of your child as he pitches a no hitter during the last high school baseball game of the season.  There’s beauty in the skilled hands of a doctor, beauty in the patience of the school Principal as your child sits in the office again, beauty in the clerk who bags your groceries when your child is screaming in the cart, and beauty in the barista who remembers your name and says hello when you are late for work.


How can we not be drawn to know God more deeply simply by looking at the world he created with his own hands? Why would we not long to know and be loved by the God who is beauty himself? What would our world, or our lives, for that matter, be like without a God who is perfection and has fashioned everything with such finery, grandeur and brilliance? Are you able to look around wherever you might be at this moment and see beauty? If this is impossible, then maybe it is time for you to come to know God more deeply in order that you might not miss the marvel of all he can bring to your life. If this is a simple task for you, it is time to praise and be thankful to the God who has given you everything beautiful. Gods wonders and miraculous signs are right in front of us to see because he is everywhere and in everything. Praise God for his beauty that is in everything.

 

A Prayer for Today

Lord, I praise Your name for everything beautiful. Lord, I praise Your name when things seem difficult and I am still able to see Your beauty in everything. Lord, open my eyes to always see your beauty.


Today’s Challenge

Find 10 things today that are beautiful. Try to see the less obvious beauty in your life and be sure to praise God for all beauty.


 

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