“And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant…every tree…every beast…every bird…to everything that creeps on the earth…every green plant for food.’ And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:29–31).

God’s goodness stems from His character and extends to His creation. In His goodness, God didn’t just create the universe and let it go (as the deists would argue); rather, He preserves, nourishes, and cares for His creation. In the same way, He did not leave man to his own devices. He made man in His own image with the ability to interact with the rest of creation. After man’s fall, God enacted a plan of redemption, which He worked out through the nation of Israel. God cared and provided for His people through the covenants with Noah and Abraham. He brought Joseph to Egypt to save his family. Moses was raised up to take them from Egypt to the Promised Land. God was faithful to the preservation of His people even in the wilderness when they rebelled and took their eyes from Him.

As we join the rat race of life, we have a tendency to lose focus. We get exhausted after getting caught up in all of the day-to-day hassles that need to be dealt with rather than focus on the Creator and Sustainer of the universe who is also our heavenly Father. For as the Psalmist writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Ps. 19:1).

I have always loved the exhibition of power in nature. When I was younger, my family visited Yosemite National Park. Just seeing the size and majesty of the Sequoias was breathtaking. I remember walking along the lower Yosemite falls bridge. It was early spring just after the snow began to melt; the force of the water coming off of the falls was truly awesome. Living in Florida, we have seen the power of hurricanes as they have blown their fury over the peninsula. I am in awe of the wind, the rain, and the lightning. As I meditate on the power of nature, I am reminded that for all of its ferocity, its power is only finite. Our heavenly Father’s power is infinite. Not only is He omnipotent, but He also loves, provides, and cares for us. No matter how vicious the storm, no matter how dry the wilderness, with our heavenly Father on our side, we have nothing to be anxious about.