God Was There

 “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”  Genesis 1:1b

It wasn’t much to look at, and nobody was around to see it. 

The lump of matter we call Earth was a wasteland—formless and empty and dark. Covered with deep water and silent blackness, the desolate mass appeared stagnant and useless.

But it was not, for God was there.

Biding and brooding, the Holy One hovered over the surface. His Spirit surrounded the stillness and enveloped the emptiness, and although no potential for change lay within the matter, all possibility lived in the Maker.

Very soon, seagulls would soar in the breeze, squawking rudely at tiny crabs scampering across the salty sand. Before long, busy bees would flit among bright flowers, sampling sweet nectar and gathering golden pollen. In just a few days, giraffes would stretch their lanky necks and nibble crisp leaves blowing in the trees. But for now, no sign of life was stirring.  The shapeless something that was there seemed good for nothing. But it was not, for God was there.

And neither are we, for God is there.  When we aren’t much to look at and no one is around to see us, God is there.  When our hearts are wastelands and our souls seem stagnant, God is there. He is hovering. He is holding. He is surrounding. He will envelop our emptiness and cover our chaos. God is there, waiting to create a masterpiece out of our mess. His Spirit will move when the time is right, so until then, surrender to His stillness and rest in His deep Presence.

The earth was barren before it was beautiful.

And God was there – in both.