See God in everything

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1)  

It’s no secret that I love nature. God created the world we live in to be full of light, color, and beauty. Creation didn’t have to be paradisaical – and yet it is. Whether it’s the iridescent wings of a hummingbird, the lime green of a tree frog, or the flaming orange and pink of a brilliant sunset, the world’s magnificence often takes my breath away.   

I especially love the sky. I’ve often told friends who feel overwhelmed to go outside and look up at the heavens. Something about the grandeur of the sky makes my problems feel small and insignificant.   

I’m often awe-struck by sunsets or cloud formations while driving and have struggled with capturing these images without wrecking. While the moving photos never do the reality justice, I feel compelled to try to share what I see with others to remind them of God’s presence in our world.   

In 2019, a resident of San Salvador did just that. Mónica Aramayo photographed a cloud formation that she hoped would “bless” anyone who saw it. Many who viewed her image attest to it showing the outline of a standing Jesus – complete with outstretched arms, blessing the earth. While skeptics were quick to say that her portrait was photoshopped, others compared it to that of the famous mountaintop statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro.   

We serve an image-less Savior, and there’s a reason for that. We tend to praise what we can see with our eyes. In contrast, the essence of faith is that we believe without seeing.   

God went to great lengths to remind us not to create idols to worship – yet many still do. For this purpose, the altar of Mary and created saints grace the churches of many large and small cathedrals worldwide. Statues of saints are sometimes carried during feast days, and many devout parishioners have prayed before the same, lighting candles and reciting prayers to what they see and believe.   

While scripture tells us that Moses spoke face-to-face with God (Exodus 33;11), we know that this passage refers to a direct conversation rather than a visual one – “as a man speaks to his friend.” (Exodus 33:11) This understanding is confirmed in a later passage when Moses asked God, “Please show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18)  

God responded to Moses by explaining, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.” (Exodus 33:20)   

Instead, God agreed to allow Moses to experience his Creator in a controlled encounter.   

“And the Lord said, ‘There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.'” (Exodus 33:19–23).  

Imagine the thrill of that phenomenon. Remember, there will come a day when all who believe in the gospel will spend eternity with our Creator. What a magnificent future Christians have to look forward to!  

We don’t need a photographer to show us that God lives among us. Just look around, and you’ll see Him. Our Father demonstrates His power in mighty thunder – His gentleness in a cool breeze. We see His majesty in the mountains and His grandeur in the sea. God’s fingerprints dwell in all creation, from the tiniest molecules to our unquantifiable galaxy.   

We need only open our eyes to see our Creator – in everything.