Where Humans Have No Say

One of my family's favorite things to do is travel. We love to take road trips and visit beautiful places in the middle of nowhere, especially national parks. On a recent trip out west, we were mesmerized by the beauty of majestic peaks, deep canyons, winding rivers, and scenic overlooks. Venturing into remote areas with no cell phone reception allows us to escape from our busy routines as we hike and explore the giant playgrounds that God has so artistically designed for his own glory and for our enjoyment.

There is something incredibly humbling about standing on the edge of a precipitous cliff and seeing nothing but miles and miles of natural grandeur. Even secular author Janine Benyus acknowledges, "It’s good for the soul to go where humans do not have a great say about what happens." In my day-to-day life, it is easy for me to feel like the ruler of my own little kingdom. I can become prideful of my plans, my efforts, and my outcomes. In my pride, I am big and God is small. However, nature rightly reminds me of God's greatness and my smallness, of God's eternality and my finitude.

In the final few chapters of Job, the Lord humbles Job as he extensively lists much of his job description in nature. The Sovereign Lord laid the foundation of the earth (38:4), prescribed limits for the seas (38:10), manages storehouses of snow and hail (38:22), controls the lightning (38:35), and oversees the births of wild animals (39:1) - to name just a few of his responsibilities. We have no say over any of those actions. It is good to remember that God is big and we are small. Nature is one area where we can gain proper perspective in understanding God's might and power.

Visit a national park. Go for a walk without headphones. Listen to the cicadas. Watch a thunderstorm roll in. Sit by a mountain stream. Feel your pulse. We do not have to look far to see the fingerprints of the Master Artist. We are surrounded by unspeakable beauty that points us to the Creator who loves us and wants us to know him personally.

The view from Angel's Landing in Zion National Park, June 2021