Are You Missing the Beauty?

For God is sheer beauty,
    all-generous in love,
    loyal always and ever.

Psalm 100:5 (MSG)

For God is sheer beauty.   I haven’t been able to get that part out of my mind since I read it.  There is something so simple and yet so outstanding about those words.  All morning after I read it I kept going back to those words.  For God is sheer beauty.

Why have I missed that so many times before? Why haven’t I noticed those words?  If I had to guess it’s probably because I’ve skimmed right over them and read down to the loyal always and ever part.  I’ve skipped right over one of the coolest things about God. 

His beauty. 

Maybe when you think of God, your first thought isn’t Wow God!  You are so beautiful.  Can I be honest? Me either.  I usually jump right to God, you are good.  You are merciful.  You are just.  You are peace.  God, you are all powerful.  Something like that.  All of that is good and true of God.  But you know what’s intertwined in all of those wonderful things about God?

Beauty.

As I reflected on those five words throughout the day I realized how much of God’s beauty I miss.  How much of it I don’t even acknowledge.  Don’t praise Him for.  How much of it surrounds me every day, moment by moment, that I just choose to ignore. 

It’s easy to see the magnificence of the mountains as we scan them from left to right, admiring the work God created.  Look at what You created God, it’s beautiful. 

It’s easy to see God’s beauty when we dip our toes into the warm ocean water and look out as far as our little eyes can see to the unending waves in the distance.  Wow God, how can anyone deny you when they see this?

We are overflowing with the goodness and beauty of God when a nurse comes and puts a precious little one on our chest for the first time and those sweet little eyes look up at us. Thank you God for such an amazing gift. 

In every one of these situations I have felt like my heart was going to explode from taking in God’s beauty.  Have you ever felt that way?  It was so in my face that I couldn’t deny it.  I felt utterly amazed by Him and It’s easy to see the beauty of God during those times.

But what about the times when it’s not so easy to see the beauty around us?

Let me tell you, I’ve been so encouraged lately by verses just like this one.  I want to see the beauty and holiness of God in the day to day, when things aren’t so easy, messy life.  Can I let you in on a little secret I’ve learned?

To see the beauty of God really means to acknowledge His presence around us.

A lot of us tend to automatically think about nature when we think of God’s beauty.  But it doesn’t always come in the form of nature, in seeing beautiful sunsets or the colors of spring.  Sometimes it comes in people.  In feeling God’s protection on us and our family.  He is everywhere.  In the movement of the wind.  In the morning sunrise.  In the compassion and grace we extend to others.  In the laughter shared between friends.  His beauty surrounds us every day.  But we need to seek it out, especially during those moments when it’s difficult to see.

Once I really thought about it.  I realized there was so much of my everyday life that I wasn’t giving God the credit and praise for.  So I made a list of things that I found beauty in.  Here are some of the things on my list:

My husband’s patience.

My daughters laugh and smile.

The trees outside my work window.

An encouraging text from a friend.

The first cup of morning coffee.

Solace in my time with Jesus.

When strangers say hello.

Baby feet.

Going to a job I love.

A summer storm.

Fresh flowers.  (Especially hydrangeas.  One of my favorites!)

A warm bed to sleep in every night.

My mother’s thoughtfulness.

Writing.

Answered prayers.

Sunny days.

When believers unite for a common purpose.

Being able to freely worship God.

Praise music.

And along with that, Hillary Scott’s new song “Thy Will” and For King & Country.

Jesus’ compassion for the broken.

Forgiveness.

Some of these things may seem trivial or simple, but they are a reflection of God’s beauty and His goodness.  What is on your list?  I want to encourage you today to look for God’s beauty around you.  Have you been missing it?  It’s easy for us to take for granted the things that we get used to seeing every day.  But friend, let me remind you of these precious words:  For God is sheer beauty. 

Powerful.  All-Mighty.  Just.  Gracious.  Merciful.  Eternal.  Holy.  Beautiful.

I’m going to make sure I add that last one into my vocabulary as ways to describe God.   What about you? 

How do you see beauty in the everyday?

What are some of God’s creations that you just find awe-inspiring?

What would be on your list of things that you find beauty in?

Congratulations to Brandi Johnston!  You are the winner of Holly Gerth's, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream!  Please send me your address so that I can mail you a copy of this amazing book!

Thanks to all who participated in the giveaway!  I loved reading your comments.