Read: Genesis 1:6-19
Let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years. (v. 14)
When I was a child, I was terrified of the dark. Every night before bed I would stand in the doorway of my room, switch off the light, and race across the carpet to the safety of my bed. It was only when I began to look up at the night sky and notice the brilliance of the stars and the luminous beauty of the moon that the nighttime—which chiefly evoked fear in me—began to elicit wonder and awe as well. As I grew older, I fell in love with the God who created the moon and stars to light up the darkness.
Our passage tells us that God created the heavenly lights not only to separate day from night, but also for the purpose of signs and seasons. Although God’s creation still sings of his majesty, we rarely interpret the glorious witness of the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens as enduring signs of God’s faithfulness to us in every season of our lives. We miss something by staying inside at night with all the lights on, rarely venturing to go outside, look up, and ponder God’s goodness.
Perhaps the darkness is not something to fear but a space in which we are invited to worship the one who illumines our darkness. The next time you feel overwhelmed with the cares and concerns of this life, consider stepping outside and looking up at the night sky to remember God’s faithfulness anew.
As you pray, ask God to open your eyes and heart to notice how he is speaking to you through creation.
About the Author
Katelyn J. Dixon is a writer and photographer from Auburn, Washington. When she’s not creating, she enjoys exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband Drew and partnering with him in life and ministry.
