My family and I recently returned from a 2 1/2 week long road trip from Florida to the Grand Canyon and Sedona and back again, making many fun stops along the way, but the Grand Canyon being the main arrival point. For the first time in a little over 20 years, I went back. Definitely had a better experience this time though. Long story short, 13 year old me wasn’t too impressed with it in the middle of the summer (Lol). I believe the statement was, “Nice hole, can we go now?” Good thing we have the potential to change as we grow up, right?
What we saw were the kinds of views that almost make you not want to take pictures; they won’t be able to do it justice. The camera just cannot capture the fullness; the depth and breadth of it all. In her book “A Year in the National Parks,” author Stephanie Payne says: “There will never be a photograph of the Grand Canyon that can adequately describe its depth, breadth, and true beauty.” And she was so right. All you can do is just stand there, soak it in, enjoy it, linger.
When viewing it through the lens of the Lord, there truly are no words. Later while we we’re driving I dove back into my Genesis study that I’ve been doing. Immediately I was thrust into a reading of being created in the image of God and then directed to Psalm 8. The words of David were what was on my heart while standing on that south rim that day.
“Oh Lord, our Lord, majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet, all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
As soon as I read that in the car my heart leapt. Having seen so many beautiful things from Louisiana, to Texas, to New Mexico, to Colorado, to Utah, and now to Arizona, my heart is just so full of the depth of the magnificence of our Lord. But more so, I am left with one question: “…what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” Meaning, in comparison to all the other great things that He has made, in all of the fullness of creation, who am I? Y’all. I am made in the image of Christ which means He finds me GREATER and MORE important than anything else He has created.
But I think my favorite of all is the idea that His creation testifies of His great love for us.
“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 people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20
In the beginning of Genesis, we have the creation story. The tone begins pretty informational, “In the beginning…” and then a listing of what was created on each and which day. Then we get to the creation of man. Suddenly, the tone switches from informational to emotional; the heart of the Father now begins to show more and more. He created someone with which He could share in the creation with (emotion), someone to take care of His creation (emotion). Then He feels it’s best for this man to not be alone (emotion) so He makes a partner, woman. So after all this creating, His hearts moves the most over the creation of mankind (emotion). Not the beauty of the canyons, mountains, rivers, and deserts. He made the Rocky Mountains and said “It is good” but then made more. He made the Grand Canyon and said “It is good” but then made more. Made man and woman and said “It is good” and then transitions from Creator to Mentor. He walks with them and talks with them; He disciples them.
Of all the things that are insanely beautiful and majestic in this world, in the eyes of the Father you mean more. He left the beauty of heaven to save us. The salvation of our souls is what moves the heart of the Father the most.
A Girl & Her God 