In the Beginning

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In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 
Genesis 1:1 NIV




This was the first verse in a new scripture reading/writing plan I started on January 1. The first three words stuck in my head for several days.  New Year's Day gets all the attention, but life is full of beginnings. 

 A quick glance at my social media shows friends and family members experiencing: 
  • the beginning of life as a parent
  • the beginning  of a marriage
  • the beginning of a new job
  • the beginning of retirement
  • the beginning of life in a new city
  • the beginning of life without a loved one
  • the beginning of life with a scary medical diagnosis
  • the beginning of life as a single parent 
As I copied verses from the first chapter of Genesis I contemplated God's incredible work of creation. In the beginning there was nothing--then six days later there was light and dark. There was earth and sky, land and sea, plants and trees, living creatures, man and woman. God created it all....and called it good. 

 Over the next few days I thought about the beginnings that we experience. It occurred to me that the same Creator who spoke the light into existence knows every detail of our beginnings. The same God who separated sky and earth, who gathered the seas and made the dry land is in control of every beginning  we encounter. The same God who filled the earth with plants and trees and living creatures created us. He provided for their needs, and He will provide for ours. 

When beginnings are happy occasions He is there. When beginnings bring uncertainty, fear, and pain, He is there. He has promised to be with us always. (Matthew 28:20)  We can trust Him in all our beginnings!







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