Does it ever seem like you spend a lot of time hearing about God, but you don’t actually hear from God? Sometimes we have to go outdoors and experience nature in order to hear from God.
I’m not the outdoorsy type.
Even as a child, when all the other kids were outside playing ball and riding bikes, I stayed inside chilling in the air-conditioning and reading a book.
My life is characterized by the meme that reads: If I can see the woods from my hotel window, sure, I’ll go camping.
But recently, while visiting family in Colorado, my husband and I decided to explore the mountainous regions of the west. And though I typically shy away from adventure, I was ready.
I had spent too much time with my eyes on the screen or my nose in a book. I’d consumed information about God from webinars, books, and podcasts. Most of the information fell into two categories: what God can do for me and what I should be doing for God.
I studied about God, but I’d done very little listening to God.
Far away from the crowded cities and suburbs, I soaked in the serenity and stillness. I drank in the beauty of the sunset as God covered the golden glow in a blanket of pink and purple and blue. I inhaled the freshness of pine and the grassy sweetness of wildflowers.
And I listened.
There, amid the cheeping of birds and the clicking of insect conversations, I heard from God.
Three Ways to Hear from God
“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 NIV
In the mountains, I heard from God in three ways.
I’m not claiming that I had a burning-bush experience where I heard God’s actual voice. But in nature, I gained a deeper understanding of who God is and who I am.
So, how do we hear from God in nature?
First, we look up.
A telescopic view of our natural surroundings gives us a sense of how puny we are and how great God is. As we gaze at the night sky and contemplate the vastness of the universe, God reminds us that we’re just a tiny speck on a small planet revolving around a medium-size star in one galaxy of many.
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:3-4 NIV
Such thoughts burst the balloon of our self-importance. When we step outside of our homes, our offices, and our little kingdoms, we gain a new perspective.
God speaks to us as he did to Job, reminding us of who he is and who we are.
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy? …“Can you direct the movement of the stars—
binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?
Can you direct the constellations through the seasons
or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth? Job 39: 4-7, 31-33 NLT
Second, we look around.
As we look around, we get a sense of the powerful forces that cause mountains to rise and rivers to flow, forming canyons so deep that we can only gaze in awe. We recognize the earth is composed of elements we did not form and over which we have no control.
The earth and everything in it belong to God.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1 NIV
And God does not need us.
“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” Acts 17:24-25 ESV
“If he made the world, he needs not our services, nor can be benefited by them, and yet he justly requires them, and deserves our praise. If all is of him, all must be to him.” – Matthew Henry
Third, we look down and examine closely.
A microscopic examination of our natural surroundings reminds us that God’s creation is so intricate, so complex, so interconnected, that it could not have occurred by accident.
And as we appreciate the complexity of the natural world, God reminds us that each tiny component is a crucial part of his grand design.
Here’s one fact I learned in Colorado: in dry and semi-dry regions, tiny living things such as fungi, lichens, bacteria, mosses, and algae are essential to the ecosystem. These organisms are actually little communities living on the top few millimeters of the soil. They hold the sand and soil in place and can absorb and retain water. They can convert nitrogen in the atmosphere into a form that is usable to plants.
These tiny creatures have a mighty responsibility. Without them, other organisms would perish.
So, nature announces a paradox. In our tiny, fragile state, we possess great significance. God has a role for each of us to play.
God doesn’t need us, yet he invites us to enjoy the splendor of his handiwork and to participate in caring for his creation.
An Invitation to Focus on God
Being in nature freed me from my inward focus. I stopped asking self-absorbed questions:
How am I doing?
What do others think of me?
What does God think of me?
As I listened, God seemed to be saying, “Notice the splendor and majesty of the earth. I made all of this. It all belongs to me. Come. Enjoy the beauty and serenity.”
Further, he seemed to be telling me, “I have a role for you to play in this world I’ve created. But don’t worry. Even if you fail, my plans will still prevail. So, relax. Trust me. I am God Almighty, and I have everything under control.”
How about you? Have you gone outside lately and contemplated creation? Have you listened to what God is saying? How is God speaking to you in nature?
Father, creation is truly awe-inspiring. Your grand design and intricate plan far surpass anything my little brain can comprehend. Thank you for giving me senses to enjoy the glorious colors, the soothing sounds, the scents, and the textures you made. I feel privileged to be part of your plan and relieved to know you have everything under control. Amen.