Rediscovering Wonder

By Kristin Eastman, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Scripture Reading

• Psalm 19:1-6
• Romans 1:20
• Revelation 21:1-5

I watched as she giggled in delight; stick in hand, wearing nothing but a diaper. “Aw, a whittle one. He’s so cute,” said my two-year-old as she gently poked a frog. She could have sat there all day looking for frogs, marveling at each escape jump from the giant toddler, and then eagerly searching for her next “friend.”

How many times had I passed by this pond without giving the frogs much thought? Surely this is one of the many reasons Jesus calls us to be like children—their propensity to sit in WONDER. 

Oxford Dictionary defines wonder as “a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar or inexplicable.”

And while wonder is not limited to little kids, consider: when is the last time you remember being filled with such awe? The daily demands of life, the busyness of the holidays, the constant input of screens, and sadly the brokenness of our world, lends us to being distracted, sometimes even disenchanted with life.

Experiencing wonder is one of God’s distinct gifts to mankind. Trees will never know their beauty, the ocean its vastness; a flower its aroma, nor the sunset its hues. Yet to us, we have the privilege of not just experiencing wonder, but God Himself through His creation. 

“Let Heaven and Nature Sing”

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Romans 1:20

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world…”

Psalm 19:1-4 

How incredible that we serve a God who reveals Himself to us in any capacity. The advent season reminds us that God came to be with us. Surely Christ is the ultimate manifestation of His love; nonetheless, nature is also God’s vessel that continually reveals Him each day. He is not distant. We need not search far to find Him. In His thoughtfulness He has surrounded us with constant reminders of His character each and every day through nature. 

In light of this truth, allow yourself time to marvel and rediscover the divine qualities of God that exist all around you. Watch the leaves sway in the wind. Gaze at the colors painted across the sky. Consider the majesty of the ever-expanding universe as you try to count the stars. What are they proclaiming about God? Feel the cold ground. Smell the burning wood and the evergreen. What is God teaching you about Himself? Listen to the bird’s song. Breathe in the blowing wind. All creation does His bidding; even now they are declaring aspects of His glory. Though silent, nature’s worship is deafening, if we can just be still enough to listen. Heaven and nature truly sing—our God is provider. He is creative. Jehovah is steadfast. Our Lord is good. Jesus is powerful. The Almighty is attentive. Our Father is wise. The King of Kings is still near.

Heaven is Wonder FULL

Revelation 21:1-5

Much like nature, the promise of Heaven has a wonder all its own. God declares, “I am making everything new!” How delightful to think that regardless of how much we discover in this life, we’ll barely be scratching the surface of experiencing the majesty of our infinite God.  

Try to envision the scene when you will first see God face to face, the dwelling place of God coming down to be with us forever. The prophet John can only liken it to that moment when a bride first makes her appearance. Pure wonder. 

Sometimes I wish God gave more specific details of Heaven. My mind just doesn’t feel creative enough to do it justice, that’s for sure! Something I did often when I first decided to follow Jesus was I would listen to Enya’s “Now We Are Free” and daydream about what it would be like to first see Jesus. The joyful anticipation. The beauty all encompassing me as I approach His throne. And then that moment when everything around me seems to fade and I finally see Him face to face. Surely the promise of Heaven should compel us to wonder. 

I recognize that for many this time of year is mixed with a deep sadness despite the joy of the Messiah’s birth. Let’s be honest, life does not always feel very wonderful. Grief still finds us regardless of special occasions. Loneliness can be all the more consuming. People are hurtful and sin remains entangling. Whether you find yourself in a season of joy or sorrow, right now Heaven holds the promise of complete healing and unending joy. This can be hard to imagine, but God gave us the hope of Heaven so that our hearts can remain enchanted even when this life is far from captivating. 

This past year, the hope of Heaven has never been more real to me. Our youngest daughter was diagnosed with a more severe disability last spring that left us overwhelmed and very sad. But during those first few weeks of processing her diagnosis, I found solace in the splendor of Heaven that still awaited her. Her diagnosis is continuing to evolve and even improve, but regardless of where it lands, I am so grateful that God gives us a hope that transcends all circumstances in this life through Jesus and our reunion.

Praise God that He came to be us. And praise God that He will come back to take us home. This life is just a shadow of the majesty that we will one day experience. Nature and the promise of Heaven are beckoning us to see God’s goodness in the present. While the splendor of Heaven far exceeds all that we can know now, as the scriptures say, we are without excuse to experience the divine today. What a gift! May your day be filled with wonder.

Questions for Reflection

1. What is distracting you today from gazing in wonder of the Almighty?
2. What are a few qualities of God that you cherish? How does God reveal those attributes through aspects of His creation?
3. What about Heaven do you most long for?
4. How should the reality and promise of Heaven shape your perspective today?

Today I will

• Read Psalm 104. Then go for a walk and consider the splendor of God’s creation. How do see Him today in your surroundings? Spend time praising Him for the things you find inspiring.

and/or

• Listen to Enya’s “Now We Are Free” and dream about the moment you will be reunited with God. Take the first few minutes of the song to envision the beauty of the promise land. And as the song rises to its climax, think of this as your own entrance down the aisle to the throne of God. What will you do or say when you first look up into His eyes? 

• Close in a prayer of thanksgiving reflecting on being with God forever.

About the author

Kristin Eastman continues to discover God’s presence through frogs a little bit more each day as she delights in her three kids—aged 6, 4 and 1. She has the privilege of serving in the full-time ministry alongside her husband, Kyle, in Ann Arbor, MI. Prior to moving to the Midwest they led the college ministry together in Gainesville, FL.