When I consider the heavens, everything else falls into right perspective — as the smallness of me shadows against the greatness of God. I find comfort and peace considering the grandness of all He is.
My husband and I live in a small, fourth-floor condo. We look out at the vast, ever-changing prairie skies ascending high above our city. Each moment, God paints a new ever-evolving landscape — sometimes in dreary tones, other times alive with vibrant hues. Day or night, gazing into the heavens causes me to rest in awe of the One who spoke everything into existence.
“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?”
Psalm 8:3-6
What impressions stir your heart as you watch lightning flash beneath fierce, dark clouds, or stand amid open skies while aurora borealis dance overhead in glowing garments of green, blue, and crimson?
Consider the Heavens
The ancient scribes of Scripture viewed only as much of the universe visible to the natural eye. Human eyesight perceives only about 2.4 billion light years into the heavens. With the help of modern technology, we now visually explore approximately 46 billion light years of outer space. But even then, the true vastness of God’s handiwork remains beyond our scope.
“The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Psalm 19:1
When I think of “handiwork,” I remember my mother sitting with knitting needles clanking, as she turned wool into garments and blankets. The entirety of the heavens and the intricacy of how they move and flow in complete unison and harmony are but visible threads woven in a majestic tapestry, declaring His glory. Each star resonates light and sound to God’s magnificent glory!
We loosely use the word awesome to define many things — from a sleek new automobile, to a successful sports play, or a gift gratefully received. Is anything truly awesome but God?
The shepherd psalmist, David, wrote both these psalms, after spending considerable time beneath the vastness of the open heavens. Perhaps, such a secluded occupation led him to acknowledge the smallness of himself just as heaven’s broad expanse does to me. Certainly, working and sleeping under the stars drew him into a reverent awe of awesome God.
Praise Him
Another psalm fittingly voices the shout of our hearts as we consider the heavens.
“Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”
Psalm 150
May we look past the daily drudgery, temporary troubles, and the confines of earthly constraints. May you, and I, consider the heavens, and see within the elegance of their design the magnificence of the Great Designer — the hand of infinite, unfathomable God. Today, we see only a tiny fragment of His handiwork!
Somehow, in considering these things, even the pressing problems come into perspective. Is anything too hard for God? After all, hard and easy only apply to limited humanity, not to Almighty God! Everything pales in comparison to who He is and what He can and will do for those who call upon Him.
May our voices join with the accolades of heaven, resounding the praises of the One who is worthy. May faith rise within us to believe beyond doubt, as we align our hearts with the magnificence of who He is and give Him glory.
Prayer
Lord, since the beginning of creation, Your invincible qualities — your eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made (Romans 1:20). May my eyes be open to see You and my heart respond to Your goodness as I experience You through creation. By faith, we understand that the universe was formed at Your command, so that what is seen was not made from what was visible (Hebrews 11:3).
Who is like You, O God? Who compares to You?
Beneath the vastness of Your domain, I stand ashamed of small-minded concepts of who You are. May faith rise and hope soar in the awakened awareness of Your grandeur. How many are Your works, Lord? In wisdom You made them all (Psalm 104:24). We lift our eyes and look to the heavens which You have created. You bring out the starry host one by one and call each of them by name. Because of Your great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing (Isaiah 40:26).
Yet, too often, I hesitate, questioning Your love and faithfulness. O Lord, forgive my foolish thoughts. I will not fear, for You are with me. You promise to strengthen and help me, holding me in Your loving arms (Isaiah 41:10).
When I consider the heavens and the work of Your hands, they stand as a reminder of both the awesomeness of Your power and consistency of Your love. What can I do but thank You? What can I do but praise Your Name? Great are you, O Lord, and worthy of all praise. Your greatness no one can fathom (Psalm 145:3).
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