Romans 8:19-22 “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”
Job 12:7-10 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
I despise the winter. Like, it’s so bad that yesterday I could literally feel tangible hatred for it in my veins when I looked outside and saw snow (Not healthy, I know). I think of ways I can proactively conquer the seasonal blahs, but… I wonder if it actually goes deeper than what I’m experiencing. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because my soul is aching for something more. Something bigger than just glorious summertime.
I think my soul is longing for a perfect state of being.
It’s aching for Eden.
Yes. That lucious, green, paradise where we and God and the land and wild animals had ultimate peace with each other. We didn’t have anxiety, imperfections, disease, taxes, and (I’d like to think) no cold or dreary snow!
With the fall came our brokenness. The world’s brokenness. Sickness. Depression. Death. Today we feel the reverberations of it in every part of our lives and our hearts know that something is wrong with the condition things are in. It can lead us to despair. To be impatient for Eden. But if we give in to these things it will only bring unrest to our hearts and make us ineffective disciples in our time on earth.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though! Our Father is a good father who longs to love us where we’re at, if we’ll let Him. He loves to send us postcards from Eden! In our children (when they’re not causing us to pull our hair out). In the love of our spouse. In a stranger’s act of kindness. In music and art. In the presence of a holy person who you just know God is living in. When we are marveled by a sunset or reminded how vast the starry universe is beyond our stratosphere. And the ultimate...When we have an encounter with the God of all creation. Whether it’s in church, in adoration, or praying alone with him in your living room. He reminds us that He has not (and never will) abandon us.
So enjoy those postcards. Treasure them until you’re called home to Eden.
Beir bua agus beannacht,
(Gaelic, old chaps. Means “Take a Victory and Blessing!”)
Alina