Nothing like a sunrise or a sunset to take my breath away with their indescribable beauty. If I remember to look up and take a moment to be still, I can behold the glorious sight unfolding right before my eyes – if I don’t pause and look up I miss the majesty of the morning sky or the serenity of an evening setting sun. Each and everyone of them is a free gift to me, I just have to lift my gaze. So often I am searching for God, but He is always right where I left Him. That’s right, I did the leaving – not God.

I often hear people say that they want to hear from God, but He is silent. They are waiting for a word, a sign, a wonder – something to get their attention. Is God silent or am I just not listening? Psalm 19:1-6 has something to say about this,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.”

The skies are proclaiming, pouring forth speech – day and night, night and day. And something I especially like is that they do this in every language! God’s voice through His creation is inescapable. It has been so in every age of human history. Romans 1:19-20 explains this saying,

“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 men are without excuse.”

God is speaking – gently, tenderly, thunderously, melodiously, whispering in the wind, wailing in the waterfall, singing over me in the carol of the crickets on a summer evening – God is speaking – calling out to me – am I listening? – am I answering? These words from an old hymn say it so well,

“This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears, all nature sings, and round me rings, the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world, I rest me in the thought, of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought. This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise; the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise. This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair; in the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere. This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father’s world, the battle is not done; Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heaven be one.”

God is not silent! His whole creation proclaims His message of hope, joy and comfort twenty-four/seven. The battle is not done, God is the Ruler yet! I can lift my head and listen anytime I choose. There is always much for me to learn.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

“This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it – the Lord is His name; ‘Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ ” (Jeremiah 33:2-3)

speak Lord, your servant is listening –

sincerely, Grace Day