Sunday’s storm reminded me how much nature can teach us. It really is true what the book of Romans says:
“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 ….”
While I know there are countless extremely intricate manifestations of nature that speak of a Divine Creator – such as our DNA and the miracle of birth – right now I’m talking about everyday, simple things that are easily witnessed.
Take Sunday’s storm, for instance. God’s power was seen in the wind, the rain and the thunder, but the stupendously beautiful sunset that followed showed his love of beauty and grace. Viewing that sunset touched me so much, I posted eight photos to Facebook. Here’s part of my commentary that accompanied the pictures:
“Nature amazes, comforts and teaches me: God is in control; God creates astounding beauty; there is indeed calm after the storm – and many, many other things.
One of my friends posted this in agreement: “It’s difficult for me to imagine someone looking at such majesty and continue to think it’s just happenstance. The creator is a majestic artist.”
Multiple verses from the Bible acknowledge this as well. Just a couple of examples:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge” – Psalm 19:1-2.
And “The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy” – Psalm 65:8.
I’ve got another photo that I’m waiting to post to Facebook that also tells a story about God’s attributes and actions as shown through nature. (Actually, I think I’ve waited too late to post it this year but I may go ahead and do it anyway, especially now that I’m writing about it.)
The picture is from Dec. 11, 2024, from a holiday gathering of my Bible Study Fellowship small group. It’s a scene from one of our group member’s backyards – a blazing red maple that stands near the house on one side of a U-shaped courtyard that features a sunroom at one end and a swimming pool at the other.
The day of our party, the tree was practically glowing in its crimson-ness – but only on the bottom half. The top portion was almost bare. Soon, the reason became apparent, and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
The bottom half of the tree was protected by the house, and the top half rose above the roof. Its upper reaches were virtually defenseless against any winds that came their way.
I couldn’t leave there that day without taking a photo so that I wouldn’t forget the lesson that the tree seemed to be teaching me.
If we stay in God’s protection, we’ll be sheltered from the wind. We’ll be protected. Oh, that’s not to say that the winds won’t buffet us from time to time. They will. Into everyone’s life winds will blow and rain will fall – but when we are protected by the Creator of the Universe, we have nothing to fear.
Even when storms come, and the winds howl around us, we can rest assured that God’s shelter is steadfast. He never promises a life free of challenges, but he does promise his presence and protection through them.
As Isaiah 25:4 reminds us, “You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.”
Much like that crimson maple, when we lean into God’s shelter, we find strength and security – even when life strips away our leaves and tests our resolve. And even when we face storms, we can trust that his plans include beauty, restoration and purpose, just as surely as the sunset follows the rain.
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
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