I Saw God that Day

During spring break, my family and I went to Florida, spending our days at the hotel pool, which was packed with people. I didn’t mind. People-watching is one of my favorite pastimes. And the people-watching that week was broadly diverse. Young to old. Pale to dark brown. English to “I have no clue what they are speaking.” Conservative to let-it-all-hang out (if you know what I mean). It was the type of environment people-watchers marvel at. All that diversity packed into such a tight space allowed my people-watching mind to explode with anticipation.

People watching, for me, doesn’t come from a place of judgment. Instead, it’s a practice of absorbing people’s interactions and how they love their children, a curiosity about their upbringing or religious beliefs. I want to know more. What’s their story? I’d love to sit down and ask them all the fascinating questions. As if we were friends sitting at a coffee shop sipping on our favorite specialty drink. But this week, instead of the “what-ifs” of who they are, I asked the Lord to show me the “I Am” who created them.

Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (KJV). Man (male and female) was created to his liking. Regardless of their stance in his presence (believer or non-believer), all have innate characteristics of their Creator. Inherited attributes from the Father were the aspects I longed to encounter. Seeing God through his creation floating beside me in the lazy river.

A Father’s Love

The sun was radiant on my skin as my feet dipped into the cool, shallow water. My two littles were splashing their way through the crowd. A couple caught my eye. Caramel skin with deep onyx hair. A modern-day Aladdin and Jasmine. I was captivated by them as they watched their two young daughters frolicking. They were enamored with the two blessings God had given them. For some reason, I was drawn to the father. His attention was on the youngest child. As she toddled in the pool, daddy never veered far from arm’s reach. When she tripped, he lovingly grinned, gently catching her before she fell under. He was close by, guarding each step. His protection was evident as he delighted in her every step, lifting her up with an expression of love on his face.

He reminded me of my heavenly Father, the One who never leaves me or forsakes me. The One who pulls me close to him, even when I’m in over my head. He smiles, delighting in my presence as I walk in his way. When I fall, the water won’t overcome me. I know he’s there, showing me his strength as he lifts me back onto my feet. It’s a love that is mysterious and intangible yet unmistakable—the everlasting love of my heavenly Father.

A Mother on a Mission

Lounging under a blue umbrella in a black bikini top with deep purple bottoms, hair down and curled to perfection, she drew my gaze. She was cooler than me, with a nose ring and half-sleeve tattoo down her left arm. Stretch marks on her tummy were my first sign that she was in the club. The motherhood club, that is. Two identical, rambunctious boys splashed in front of her. Wearing yellow life jackets, these boys were fearless. Trailing behind was their dad. No doubt, these two parents had their hands full.

The next day, I spotted her again, marching with urgency towards me. I knew something was amiss. As a mom, I’ve sported the same expression. She was on a mission, frantically looking for something or someone while attempting to keep her exterior calm. I saw through the facade. I perched beside my girls in the shallow end, but while they splashed carefree around me, my eyes were also on a mission. Casually, I skimmed the scene, trying to spot the yellow-life-jacket-wearing wild things. My attention was caught by the sound of a screaming child and an angry, reprimanding father. One twin, held by his father, was receiving the scolding of the century. The other twin was hand-in-hand with his relieved mother.

In that moment of alarm, I was reminded of my Good Shepherd.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? (Luke 15:4 ESV)

My Good Shepherd drops everything to rush to my rescue, despite my venturing off to satisfy my own selfish wants, as those little boys did I am lost without even realizing it. Being all-knowing, he sees the danger while I’m fixated on pleasing myself. He intently pursues me, reaches me, takes my hand, and patiently guides me back to safety to be with him. He’s never failed to make me his mission. For I am his, and he is mine.

My eyes were opened that week to God’s fingerprints on every piece of his handiwork. Unfortunately, life’s busyness often works as a set of blinders, keeping me from seeing him in my every day. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit provided me with a pause that week, one I didn’t know I needed, awakening my awareness to God’s presence. Would you, too, like to experience God in this way? I’m hoping my experience ignites a desire for God to reveal himself to you in the ordinary. I pray that one day you, too, can say, “I saw God that day.”

Erika Bailey is the founder and president of The Round Farmhouse Ministries. She and her husband, Travis, live in a round farmhouse in West Virginia with their four children. Erika loves to dig into God’s Word and make centuries-old texts applicable today. Through her writings, she hopes to teach you more about God’s Word, make you laugh, and possibly shed a tear or two (happy tears, of course). She prays that what she writes is relatable, encouraging, and brings you closer to the Lord as a result.