God Says You Are Good

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.” (Gen 1:31 NIV)

Think of the most beautiful setting you have ever seen. Maybe it was a vacation spot, a star-filled sky as you lay in the backyard, or the sunrise viewed from the window of an airplane. Something that took your breath away. A scene that no photograph could adequately capture.

My breathtaking memory is from our family vacation to the Rocky Mountains. All of the books and travel videos I consumed while planning the trip could not prepare me for the width, breadth, and depth of the majestic Rockies. I grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, so my threshold for mountainous awe is high. As I took in the grandeur of the largest mountain range in North America, I redefined the word “mountain” in my mind.

Everywhere I turned, my senses were overwhelmed with beauty. I gazed at the reflection of the mountainside on the surface of a glassy alpine lake. While shivering in the frigid winds of the tundra, I took in hundreds of miles of the mountain range from an elevation of eleven-thousand feet. Animals I had only seen in nature documentaries now grazed just a few hundred yards away. Sunrises and sunsets provided visually stunning bookends to the day.

Imagine your breathtaking spot. Now imagine God’s reaction after creating such beauty.

The poetry of Genesis 1 helps us imagine God’s reaction during the creative process of fashioning the earth in all its splendor. “And God said, ‘Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.’ And it was so. God called the dry ground ‘land,’ and the gathered waters he called ‘seas.’ And God saw that it was good” (Gen 1:9-10 NIV, emphasis added). After the plants, flowers, and trees grew, God saw that it was good. He set the sun, moon, and stars in the sky and saw that it was good. As animals began to walk the earth, fish swam in the sea, and birds took flight in the air, God saw that it was good.

Finally, we reach the pinnacle of God’s good creation: “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27 NIV).

This represents you and me, created in God’s image. We are a part of God’s good creation. We may find it difficult to believe we are crafted beautifully by the hand of a masterful Creator. With comparison images bombarding us through media, it can be easier to see our faults. Gray hair, acne scars, and the elevens between our brows may be the first thing we look at in the mirror.

Beyond cosmetics, our unseen faults of pride, greed, discontent, or selfishness may leave us feeling like less-than-image bearers. We wander into the garden, sit under the tree of life, and regret all of the decisions that seem to separate us from the presence of God. We get lost in the sin narrative of Genesis 3, forgetting the goodness of Genesis 1.

You are created in the image of God, and you are very good. Don’t let the reflection in the mirror discourage you or the perceived failings of your life detract you from the love of God. God created Humans to walk in fellowship with him, to join his work here on earth. Accepting ourselves as a part of his very good creation helps us release shame and walk closer to God.

As you take in the beauty of spring, allow it to remind you of your own beauty. Blooming trees, greening grass, and budding flowers point to a Creator who makes good things–and you are one of them!

Creator God, as we gaze at the wonder of your creation around us, we are filled with awe and gratitude. We confess it is sometimes difficult to feel a part of your very good creation. Remind us how precious we are to you. Give us the confidence of true image bearers. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

“When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet.” (Ps 8:3-6 NIV)

“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.” (Ps 139:13-14 NIV)

Reach for More

Consider planting a favorite flower in your flower bed or a pot on the porch. As you watch it bloom in the coming months, let it remind you of your own God-given beauty and goodness.

Kelly Smith is a small town girl who married a small town man. They have three children. In the quiet minutes of her day, you will find her at the keyboard or curled up with a book–always with coffee. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.