God's Deliberate Creation
Last week I had the desire to walk at one of my favorite places. It was a beautiful autumn day; there was a chill to the air, a light layer of clouds filled the sky, and the leaves were brilliantly displaying their colors.
I tucked into my car, taking off for the drive with a heaviness on my shoulders. Shame had been a very loud voice for me that week, and I was fighting the temptation to listen. I knew I needed to take a walk with my Father – I couldn’t fight this alone - so the familiar forests of Amicalola Falls State Park brought me such comfort as I pulled into the parking area.
I grabbed my jacket, feeling that brisk wind pass over me, and began the walk to the top of the waterfall - all 600 steps of it. It is a HARD hike up as you can imagine, but it pushes me to lean into the challenge by moving slowly. It narrows my focus, quiets my mind, and allows me to “sit back” and observe the wonderous classroom that is God’s creation.
Amicalola has been one of my special spots for many years - whether I carried with me tears and fatigue from hard seasons, or the child-like joy of lighter seasons, God sure does love to meet this little one in nature for the best lessons.
“God,” I always prayerfully ask before I begin my walks, “show me something new; help me see more clearly and help me feel you.”
I repeated this prayer as I began the uphill hike. I noticed the sounds of rapids rushing next to me, leaves softly fell from the trees above, and my breathing quickened as I began the start of those 600 steps to the top.
I grabbed the railing, feeling the wood glide under my hand, and briefly stilled as I noticed how many markings and words littered the framing. People had written dates, names, comments; some had even carved into the wood – I frowned. The entire stairway was covered in these messages.
Every flight of stairs I climbed reveal new ways people have marked “them” into the wood.
I finally reached the halfway point - my legs were burning (…honestly, I was at the point where I was questioning why I thought this was a good idea!) and then I noticed it...
Right in front of the rush of the falls was another written message, tucked between the mess of graffitied names. I had mindlessly walked right past it at first, but a tug in my chest pulled me backwards.
I read the 6 simple words and paused…and stared…my heart continued to hammer in my chest, this time it wasn’t from the climb…but because I could feel the nearness of my Father and knew these were not just words written on wood by a stranger. There was MORE for me here…
My entire body melted. Tears pooled my eyes. And I felt hugged in a way I didn’t even realize I needed.
I felt the wonderful arms of my Abba in those six words:
"God took His time on you."
“Even me?” I felt the little girl tucked away inside me fearfully ask.
“Always you,” His voice assures.
I could feel this reminder of WHOSE I am resonate deep into my soul - comfort poured into this little part of me that struggles to believe it. Oh, how I had forgotten this as I let shame walk into the home of my heart that week…
Those 6 little words… hold a shadow of so much more within them.
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
Psalm 139 encompasses so much of how God spoke to me in that moment - I encourage you to take time to meditate on David’s words - from the beginning to the end, this psalm beautifully lays out who God is and how wonderfully He loves us.
Isn't it incredible to think that God took the time to carefully knit each one of us together, shaping our unique personalities, strengths, and quirks? Each intricacy was intentionally designed, with a purpose woven into the very fabric of our being.
You see, love and shame do not go together. (Last week Maggie wrote about love – specially 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – If you haven’t read it yet, please go back. It is a wonderful reminder…) Shame is a tactic from the enemy that encourages lies about our worth and separates us from the divine connection God desires to have with us. Shame thrives in darkness, convincing us that our flaws and mistakes are too great for God's grace.
And yet, in the embrace of God's love, shame loses its grip, and we are free to bask in the warmth of His acceptance. Each heartbeat, each breath, is a testament to the deliberate and unrushed work of the Creator who took His time with you.
Allow His grace to flood your heart, dispelling the shadows of shame, and bask in the light of His unconditional love.
For in His deliberate creation of you, He saw the beauty within, and His desire is for you to see it too.
In Colossians 2:6-7, we are urged to "walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."
Shame is a choice, and God was showing me how I was choosing to lean away from Him by putting this isolating darkness over myself. There are times we forget WHOSE we are…in that moment in my forgetfulness, God called out to me – the creator of our hearts wants us to grow is His light and not be lost in the shadows of sin.
Oh how thankful I am for such a loving Father…
As we navigate the journey of life, may we be anchored in the truth that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, intimately known, and deeply loved by a God who spared no detail in creating us. Let the symphony of His love drown out the whispers of shame, and may we walk confidently in the light of His unfailing love.
Take this next week to lean into prayer with God…ask Him to help you see yourself and others through His eyes. Read Psalm 139 and pray - just as David did - for Him to search you, to reveal any expectations or fears you are holding over yourself and for Him to lead you in His everlasting ways. Take your time to be with the Creator of your heart just as He did with you.
