Seeing how "it is good."

"Mommy, can you help me find a Lego piece I need?" Will called down to me from the top of the stairs.

He had been silent in his room all morning creating buildings with Legos. I made my way up the stairs to assist as he began describing the exact particular color and size of the certain piece he needed. After much what felt like searching for a needle in a haystack, we found the small, two-pronged, faint yellow block forming a tiny light in the "kitchen" of his house.

"This is JUST what I wanted it to look like," he said smiling proudly.

I am reminded of that moment today as I spend time in God's word. My oldest has a wonderful imagination and LOVES to create what he has imagined.

How many times have I heard the story of Creation? How many times have I told it to my children? Have I read it in Genesis? Too many. Yet today it's as if I've read it for the first time. Today I am moved by the artistry of God. The great Creator. Just in the birds alone...their colors... their shapes and sizes. Then the animals. The massive seas. The great sky. The clouds. The earth. The mountains. All from nothing. He simply designed. He created and formed... from nothing.

"Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.... God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:26,31

When I consider that I bear the image of our Triune God, there becomes a shift in my perspective. When I dwell on the fact that I bear qualities of Christ, I see the value in myself. I see value in others. I treat them that way. After all, we were created.

I think we forget that. Scripture tells us God formed us. We were designed. We weren't thrown together. Just as my son had that exact particular part for his building in mind, so God purposely plans accordingly for me. He didn't just grab any old eyes. He had the color, hazel, in mind the entire time. He didn't just throw me in some woman's womb. He chose my mother. He is the designer of my life. Every block is specific and unique, hand-picked, for me... for all of us.

All that God created He saw as good. When he created man, it was very good. We are precious and honored in His sight. He LOVES us. (Isaiah 43:4). Yet, we live in this fallen world. Life is hard. How can we believe the fact that we are loved and all things are working together for our good(Romans 8:28) in this reality?

How can this all be good, Lord?

The answer was swift.

Because I AM the Creator. I AM the builder of your life. I AM the foundation upon which you were built and the source of strength by which you can stand. You are an unfinished building. Though some bricks seem painful, some too much to bear, they are necessary for my specific design. Your blueprint is engraved on my hand. I AM purposeful in your story. Trust me, my child, I see the finished treasure. It is BEAUTIFUL! But for now, I AM still creating... and because I am creating... it IS good.