"The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything." -Julian of Norwich
This is so true. It is at the heart of working gratitude.
Gratitude is an action verb. It is so much more than a feeling. It is intentional and it is powerful. Joy is a by-product of gratitude.
Think about the everyday items you used today that make your life more comfortable. If someone invented it, is a product of their labor. For some, it was accidental. For others, there were days, weeks, months, and perhaps even years of trying and failing. Getting some things right takes time... and God's timing.
Do we behold God in the failures as much as the successes? His hand is always present.
Already this morning, we have used a coffee maker, indoor "water closets" for creature comforts, and this crazy communication tool we call the internet. We access it with a communication device that can store all of our photos. I have the Holy Bible at my fingertips in dozens of translations, plus access to the original Greek and Hebrew. How can we not behold God in everything?
Before you plug in the coffeemaker or tea kettle for the French Press, think about all of the other inventions that came first. Electricity and all of the wires that make it safe. The wires get better and better with new technology that leads to safer living spaces. What about all of the inventions that came before roasting the coffee (or cacao) beans? Every simple, delightful invention connects to others.
It all fits together in the time and space we know and understand. We do not always understand God's timing, but we can trust His heart, purpose, and plan.
He is always present(omnipresent). Patiently waiting for it to all come together, as our freewill impacts it all. He is omnipotent, but chooses a relationship, longing for us to choose Him back. He allows us to make the worst of decisions... and we sometimes do... and then longs for our confession, repentance, His forgiveness, and a restored relationship.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
Today, I am grateful we can behold God in everything... all things.
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