The Holy Spirit showed me a picture of a door covered in streamers as I was reading the book of Genesis. I felt this perfect peace as I opened the door and saw lush gardens, animals of all kind and a stillness I’d never felt. As I sat in this moment, I heard the Spirit say, “Celebrate the Genesis.”

The book of Genesis paints such a beautiful scene of what God intended for our world. I imagine God taking a paintbrush and dipping it into a palette of colors, choosing the deepest and rich shades to create the garden. With each stroke, I see how his heart could swell with pride.

We all have to begin somewhere. Even God had to start.

We know how God felt when he was done with creation because after each time he finished he said, “It is good.” With mighty hands and an outstretched arm, he knit our world together. His power could have stirred up the world in a matter of seconds, but he chose to create with slow intention. God never rushed. As the Holy Spirit hovered over the waters, ready for the command of the Father, God spoke and said, “Let there be light.” I can only imagine the anticipation and excitement of what was to come. Scripture goes on to tell us he created the oceans, vegetation, sun & the moon, animals and birds. He saves his most prized possessions for last, Adam & Eve, the gateway to humanity. After long hours hard at work, I picture God sitting down in the green grass saying, “It’s time to celebrate the Genesis.”

I love how God chose to honor his process by resting and reflecting. In Hebrew, the word genesis means the coming into being of something or the origin. Even the narrator named this book after what creation stood for. Everything has a beginning.

Humans have this tendency to despise or rush the small beginnings, myself included. We want to finish before we start. We want the promise of a prophetic word, the promotion, the relationship, the pay raise, the published book, the extra cash, the summer vacation, the list goes on and on. When other people get those things first, our sinful nature becomes bent towards jealousy and self-pity.

Celebrating can be hard. I’ve missed many family and friend celebrations because of my time overseas and I remember the disappointment. From afar, I had to hold tension between constant disappointment and celebration. God encourages us with his words in Isaiah 43: 18-19 when he says, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” He wants us to fix our eyes on the new things he is doing! If mercies are new every morning, that means he is celebrating the Genesis of each day.

The start of something always requires patience, vulnerability and wisdom. It’s in the wide range of celebrations that God offers us the opportunity to trust, knowing that what he says will come to pass. What he springs forth must be celebrated, no matter how small.

Biblical Principle:

God created the world with intention & purpose, everything matters to him. The book of Genesis shows us what God intended for creation and the impact of sin.

Biblical Challenge:

Name your disappointments. Name your celebrations. While holding both in your heart, write down the ways you can trust God in the promises he has for you.