God Rejoices In The Works Of His Creation

– Ponderings:

With the rain this morning, my thoughts went to the psalms and Psalm 104:

From the sky you (God) send rain on the hills, and the earth is filled with your blessings.
You make grass grow for the cattle and plants for us to use, so that we can grow our crops
and produce wine to make us happy, olive oil to make us cheerful, and bread to give us strength.
The cedars of Lebanon get plenty of rain – the Lord’s own trees, which he planted.
There the birds build their nests; the storks nest in the fir trees.
The wild goats live in the high mountains, and the rock badgers hide in the cliffs.
You created the moon to mark the months; the sun knows the time to set.
You made the night, and in the darkness all the wild animals come out.
The young lions roar while they hunt, looking for the food that God provides.
When the sun rises, they go back and lie down in their dens.
Then people go out to do their work and keep working until evening.
Lord, you have made so many things! How wisely you made them all! The earth is filled with your creatures.
There is the ocean, large and wide, where countless creatures live, large and small alike.
All of them depend on you to give them food when they need it; you provide food, and they are satisfied.
You give new life to the earth.
May the glory of the Lord last forever! May the Lord be happy with what he has made!
I will sing to the Lord all my life; as long as I live I will sing praises to my God.

Notice how one sentence flows to the next. Thousands of years ago, this psalmist marveled at the intricate balance of ecosystems, each functioning under God’s command. But the earth is not only functional, it’s overflowing with goodness, revealing God’s character. God provides not merely enough but with abundance, and his presence fills every part of creation.

When we see something as simple as rain, it should lead us to awe and worship. Verse 31 tells us that God rejoices in the works of his creation – and if creation brings God joy, it should also bring us joy. Yes, even the snow flurries that are on our horizon!

I invite you to look at, feel, and find joy in the rain. Most of all, I hope you allow it to connect you with the God you also created in his image.

Prayer: Creator God, we marvel at the beauty and abundance of your creation. The rain nourishes the earth, and your provision satisfies all living things. Open my eyes to see your hand at work in the world around me, and teach me to trust you more deeply. May my heart overflow with worship as I join creation, even with the rain, in praising your name. Amen.