Meditations on Genesis 1

Somehow I thought that by now, I had learned all that this first chapter of the Bible has to offer. After all, I've taught it in Sunday school and to my children at least a half dozen times, studied it a few years back in our Bible study at church, and begun reading at this point more times than I can count determined to read through the Bible in the year only to become bogged down somewhere between Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I knew God was the good, powerful, intelligent Creator speaking into existence all that He desired and that all things were made for his glory. What makes this time different? I guess the difference is inside of me.

This past year was extremely stressful and difficult. Part of it was my own fault for overloading my schedule with outside commitments. Part of it was beyond my control. I certainly didn't plan to miscarry at 12 weeks right before Christmas or again at 6 weeks in April. I was unprepared for the grief and sorrow, unprepared for the unanswered prayers and questions. The times for me were very hard and felt very dark indeed.

As I read through Genesis 1 for my first grade Sunday School lessons, my thoughts stopped on that first day. "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." Gen. 1:2 God started with complete and utter darkness. That was how I had felt: the formlessness as if my life had been plunged into chaos and confusion, the darkness of pain and grief, and the emptiness that comes with loss. Into that first darkness, God brought light, order, and a multitude of good things. Likewise into my life God has been moving in, restoring order and peace, joy and hope, and faith in His goodness and sovereignty.

I've always loved to see the sunbeams shining through a cloud because it reminded me how God reaches out to us in His love and mercy. Today it also reminds me that God can break through the darkest, hardest, or even scariest of times to light our way back home to Him. I pray we always remember to look for His light and to trust in His love as we each walk on our journey home.



"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6