In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:1-4
The first words in the Bible show God actively making something new.
These words don’t say He loves us, although He does. Or He’ll die for us, which He did. The Bible starts by setting the foundation of God as Creator. He created the heavens and the earth.
From Genesis to Revelation, beginning to end, God is in the business of making something out of nothing. He’s in a constant state of revealing ideas and bringing things into existence. “Creator” is God’s first character trait communicated in the Bible. It’s a powerful, creative expression of who He is and what He does. In simple terms… God makes stuff.
Almost every summer of elementary school, I went away to sleepover camp. The summer days consisted of swimming, arts and crafts, and team-building exercises. (I’m basically the queen of the trust fall.) One night, my fellow campers and I ditched our cozy cabin and hiked into the mountains. Fifty young kids covered in mosquito repellent and a few brave counselors marched deep into the woods searching for something bigger than ourselves… and it wasn’t a bear.
After what seemed like hours of hiking and being on high alert for animal attacks, we reached an open clearing. The day faded as we snuggled into the warmth of our sleeping bags. I clung to my flashlight as it produced a comforting light in a moment when I felt so small underneath the vast darkness of the night sky.
In the middle of stories, boys passing gas, and girls giggling, a flash shot across the sky… and another, and another. Shooting stars were suddenly filling the sky with a dance all their own. It’s the reason we hiked to the open clearing—to catch a glimpse of the night sky performing.
It was breathtaking.
Laying there still, under the darkness of the sky, I believed in the creativity of God.
Have you experienced a moment that made you believe in an awe-inspiring God?
Do you believe when you see fireflies glowing in rhythmic motion or snow glistening in a child’s outstretched hands… or have you missed it? Sometimes life happens, and even when I’m standing under the stars, I miss their twinkle. Or I’ll race from place to place but miss out on actually seeing the faces of others.
Can you relate? When was the last time you sat in solitude and expressed gratitude for all God has created?
Genesis 1 describes the creation of the world. Grab your Bible and check it out—you’ll start hugging those trees in no time.
Creation reflects the glory of God. So whether you are appreciating the sunrise that symbolizes a new day, learning about the creation of the stars, or standing in awe at the wonders of the waves, make time to notice God’s handiwork. When we live in thankful intention, we’ll see another dimension of our awe-inspiring Creator.
Simple Prayer
God, may our gratitude grow as we focus on Your craftsmanship. Help us walk into a deeper understanding of Your creative nature! Amen.
-winning editor Jenny Randle has served in ministry and worked in the entertainment, publishing, and creative industries for more than fifteen years. With her unique personal story and creative-ninja-like ways, she inspires, encourages, and equips others to understand their God-given identity and purpose. Jenny and her husband, Matt, founded Freedom Creatives, empowering creatives in the art of living a transformed life in Christ. They live in upstate New York with their two kids, where they enjoy strawberry gummies and spontaneous dance parties. For more information or creative inspiration, visit jennyrandle.com.