In a world filled with anxiety and despair, we can still find joy. We just need to retrain our minds to focus on the goodness and loveliness that still exists.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 ESV
If we decide to meditate on “whatever is lovely,” we can find examples of loveliness all around us. On any given day we might encounter scenes of beauty.
But I can recall a handful of spectacular sights—sights so sublime and glorious that they are forever etched in my memory.
God’s Lovely Design
One of the loveliest sights I’ve witnessed is the tulip fields in Holland. Several years ago, my husband and I and two other couples traveled across the Atlantic on a cruise ship. An excursion took us to the Keukenhof Gardens for the Tulip Festival.
As we exited the bus at the entrance to the Gardens, we quickly opened umbrellas and put on raincoats. I feared our much-anticipated tour would be a washout. But the rain miraculously stopped, and we were treated to a feast for the eyes.
I scampered through the gardens like a kid on a field trip, intent on seeing everything at once. Our time was limited, and I was determined to capture every image with my camera.
The extravagance of beauty overwhelmed me. Literally millions of flowers stretched out before my eyes. Visitors who climbed the stairs inside the windmill could stand on an observation deck to view the tulip fields. Millions of tulips formed bands of color stretching out towards the horizon.
Oh, but up close! Each delicate, perfect flower boasted a brilliance and design that only a perfect God could invent.
I scurried from one garden to the next, overwhelmed by the loveliness of the gardens. One area, an expanse of blue hyacinths flowed like a river between the trees.
In some gardens, like-colored tulips filled the beds. In other areas, flowers mingled to form beautiful, multi-colored displays.
The entire scene moved me to praise the Creator who spoke the first flowers into existence.
God’s Lovely Works of Art
I remember another sublime moment in Colorado, when God, the Master Painter, splashed color across the evening sky. I wanted to drink in the beauty of the sunset. I wanted to grab hold of the scene, but the colors continually shifted until they vanished into the night sky.
Glorious encounters like this cause us to lose all sense of time and self as we become immersed in the moment.
Loveliness and Power in God’s Creation
Another memorable moment of loveliness occurred when I sat on the rocky shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean.
The wind and waves held me spellbound.
As we gaze at the ocean, we sense the presence of its Creator. In one dramatic slap, the powerful waves could destroy us or carry us out to a vast unknown. But the rhythmic sound of the water splashing against the rocks soothes us, just as God quiets us with his love.
Whether we’re viewing the intense wonder of wind and waves or the intricate beauty of delicate blossoms, scenes like these remind us that the world is indeed a lovely place.
When we view snapshots of beauty, we feel uplifted despite life’s uncertainty.
We feel hopeful in the hard times.
God’s creation is still good, and our Creator offers us this loveliness to enjoy.
What lovely things have you experienced?
Which lovely memories do you cherish?
What reminders of loveliness can you keep on hand to fill your soul when daily struggles leave you depleted?
When discouragement threatens to drag us down, let’s remember the loveliness.
Whatever is lovely…think about these things.