When I lived in Alaska with its mountains, glaciers, wildlife, and northern lights, I believed anyone who doubted the existence of God only needed to come to the Great Alone. The awe-inspiring natural beauty there is humbling, giving credence to the Apostle Paul’s declaration in Romans 1:20:
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that
they are without excuse (NKJV).
A few months ago, I was reminded of God’s presence in nature during a trip to the beach with my friend Katie. We stayed in a condo overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
The first afternoon we stood on our balcony and enjoyed the view of the ocean while breathing in the fresh salt air. Totally relaxed, our gazes were drawn upward to focus on the cloud formations, which resembled large wings. A discussion of angels ensued.
Not long after, as we listened to the peace inducing sound of waves rolling in and out, the Navy’s Blue Angels zoomed past us on their way back to Pensacola. I was captivated and felt blessed to witness up close these F/A-18 Super Hornets flown in formation with precision.
The wing-like clouds followed by the Blue Angels was not a coincidence. I felt as if God was saying, “Keep your eyes open!”
As Katie and I strolled on the beach the next day, I started picking up shells. I picked up five and considered myself done because I have numerous containers of collected shells on bookcases and in cabinets.
However, I was compelled to pick up one more shell. I squealed in delight when I looked at it.
The psalmist who penned chapter 95 reminds us
The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.
Psalm 95:5 (NKJV)
Clearly, God’s hands also formed the seashells since the cross is an undeniable image of the gospel message. Jesus carried our sins to the cross where he died to set us free.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and
sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:10 (NKJV)
Finding the shell with the cross encouraged me. There are so many disturbing problems in our country and world, but God is still sovereign. He reminded me to keep my eyes open for evidence of His presence.
Just this morning, as I was walking up my driveway, I glanced down. Something caught my eye, and I looked closer. Then I smiled.
Have any of you found an object or witnessed a scene in nature or elsewhere that reminded you of God’s presence or power?
What a special time of sharing the many ways God has made His presence known in our friendship. We have been roommates, (43 years ago) at Judson College; best friends; prayer warriors; and now we sit quietly and thank God for His faithfulness. It was a joy to see angel wings in the clouds; hear the sound of the waves and find a shell from the depths of the ocean with a cross placed perfectly for your eyes to see. Coincidence ? No…..God reminding life long friends that He was with them in the beginning and He will continue to be beside them for eternity.
Well said, Katie. God has blessed and strengthened our friendship as well as our faith. Thank you for your beautiful tribute. God is so good!
When I look out a window early morning, I see the sun filtering through tree leaves. They remind of of God’s light shining into and through our lives. Beautiful post, Linda.
That’s a lovely image I can easily visualize, Jeannie. Our Creator blesses us in so many ways through nature.
Love everything about all of this sweet Linda….. thank you for sharing….
Thank you for your kind words, Kathy. It’s such a joy to discover God’s intentional gifts in nature.