Stepping outside of our daily routine can bring great refreshment to our soul. Bronlynn shares.
“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding” (Job 37:5). “O Lord God Almighty, who is like You? You are mighty, O Lord, and Your faithfulness surrounds You” (Psalm 89:8).
I recently enjoyed a day that I will treasure forever.
We live in an area full of waterfalls. Because of my back and fibro issues, I am not able to see many of them. But on this day, thanks to God, my husband, a hiking stick, and pain medicine, I made it.
There was a succession of six waterfalls on this trail. The trail itself was lovely although challenging. The mountain laurel was in full bloom, and falling petals carpeted our way.
Parts of the river contained huge boulders, and the water surged around them and over them into beautiful and powerful falls. But the water between each falls, although filled with smaller rocks, was fairly calm.
We were the only people there and were able to get very close to several of the falls. I was able to sit on the rocks for a while, listening to the roar and watching the swirling water. As I did, I thought about my life with God.
Sometimes my life is relatively peaceful. The small rocks of difficulties and annoyances aren’t too difficult to handle. God’s waters gently flow over them, nudging me along.
Other times I am faced with huge boulders of pain and suffering, which seem impossible to navigate. Just as the most powerful sections of the falls were the ones flowing over the largest boulders, so the bigger my problems, the more God pours His power and strength over them, moving me through and around them.
God’s power is strongest when I need it most.
Those waterfalls were a spectacular word picture from God, reminding me that no pain or suffering is too big for His mighty power to handle.
I thank God for the beauty of His creation, and how He uses it to speak to me, if I will look and listen.
Prayer: O Lord God, I praise You for Your creation and how it displays Your great beauty and power. Thank You that there is no pain or problem in my life that is too great for Your mighty waters of strength to carry me through. Help me always to be listening and looking for the ways that You reveal Yourself to me. Amen.
About the author:
Bronlynn Spindler lives in North Carolina and is blessed to have the support and encouragement of a wonderful husband, three daughters, and their husbands. God’s grace and strength have brought her through thyroid cancer and continue to sustain her through ongoing back pain, depression, headaches, multiple sensitivities, and fibromyalgia. You may view her blog of devotionals at www.aplaceofsprings57.blogspot.com.
What boulders do you have in your life right now? How is God showing His power in bringing you through them?
This is a song about how all of creation bow downs to God, the creator of all. This is “At Your Name” with Phil Wickham. As your eye is drawn to the beauty around you, take a moment to thank God the reminders of His power all around you. -Lisa
I love this word picture from God, Bronlynn. I’m so glad you could experience it. Thank you for sharing it. Focusing on God’s creation helps me to realize who is in control and who has power to help us through anything.
Yes it does, Trudy. Creation is one of the means God uses the most to speak to me. It’s such a gift to us! I pray you have meaningful opportunities to be blessed by it.
Blessings,
Bronlynn
Bronlynn, I loved reading your devotional today and thank you for bringing me right to the experience you were having. First, you had the faith to take the steps to go on the hike and God sustained you as you took each step and came to each glorious view.
I, too, love waterfalls. I love the look and the majesty of them and their beauty for they are always surrounded by other beauties of God’s creation. Those “others” seem to be the setting to show them off in all their glory.
They roar in their majesty reminding me ( as you have in your devotional ) of God’s overwhelming majestic love. Yes, pain and challenges roar at us but God’s majestic love “roars” louder if I but listen – Living Water to calm in the midst of the roaring.
Wow – I got so much from your words today. Thank you!!
xo Lynn
Thanks Lynn:). I am so thankful for that day – it was a very special gift from God!
I hope you are doing well and enjoying summer creation!
Blessings,
Bronlynn
Love this Bronlynn 🙂
I’m so glad that “God’s power is strongest when we need it most” and He knows better than we do, when that will be.
You know I love waterfalls too and your word picture and what God showed you this day, will give me more to think about when next I’m viewing those rocks, or boulders, in the midst of the flowing waters. Creation has so much to teach us about the Creator!
Thanks for brightening my winter day, with your special summer day out.
Blessings dear friend,
Fiona
Thanks Fiona :). I know how much you appreciate nature and God’s creation too.
Blessings,
Bronlynn
Bronlynn, I also find so much about God in the natural world. Even if it’s just sitting on our deck and observing our flowers, the trees and sky. The birds I can’t often see but I hear them singing (sometimes) about God’s glory.
Right now I’m missing my family who left yesterday. And I’m trying to get the laundry, etc. caught up. It’s hard to get much done in a day as I’m so tired and pain shouts for my attention.
But even as I sit here in the office looking out at the sky, the clouds and the boughs of some trees gently blowing in the breeze, I’m feeling refreshed.
I’m thinking about visiting a friend who lives quite close to a lake. It’s quite a drive to get there and back in one day, but it might be worth it while we still have warm weather.
Thanks for sharing your sight-seeing hike with us. I’m very happy for you to have the memories of that special day.
Luv ya,
Beth