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\u201cIn the beginning\u2026\u201d (Genesis 1:1)

As I start off my time with Wilderness Wanderings, I thought that I\u2019d start at the beginning.\xa0 The beginning of the Bible, the beginning of the story.\xa0 God\u2019s story.\xa0 Our story.\xa0 It seems like a strange place to jump in though.\xa0 It sure doesn\u2019t feel like a beginning in life right now. \xa0We still grieve with Pastor Michael and his family with the loss of his dad one week ago today.\xa0 Rose, Harvey, Neil, and others still grieve as well.\xa0 We\u2019re in the middle of another stay-at-home order, which means more loss, more unemployment, more stress, more anger and frustration at the government or the public health officials or the things being posted on social media or\u2026you fill in the blank.\xa0 But there is new life too.\xa0 Three new births in recent months. Signs of spring, community coming together.

\u201cIn the beginning was the Word,\xa0and the Word was with God,\xa0and the Word was God\u201d (John 1:1).\xa0 The One True God was there from the beginning and His word created the beginning of life.\xa0 He who is constantly beginning and continuing a new work in each one of us will continue that good work which He started in us and in this world until the day when Christ Jesus returns.

In the beginning, God loved us so much that He created our world.\xa0 For six days He spoke, and life appeared, and on the sixth day He created man and woman and called them \u201cvery good\u201d, the crowning joy of His creation.\xa0 We do good to remember that.\xa0 Every person on this earth is created \u201cvery good\u201d because when God speaks, life springs forth.\xa0 Life abundant.

God says to us, as he did to Joshua after the death of Moses in the desert \u201cHave I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;\xa0do not be discouraged,\xa0for the\xa0Lord\xa0your God will be with you wherever you go\u201d (Joshua 1:9).\xa0 God hasn\u2019t left us alone to fight our battles on our own.\xa0 He has given us a command telling us to be strong and to be of courage, and not to fear, and not to be discouraged.\xa0 Why?\xa0 Because the Lord our God is with us wherever we go.\xa0

\u201cIf I go up to the heavens,\xa0you are there; if I make my bed\xa0in the depths, you are there\u2026.\u201d (Psalm 139:8).\xa0 If you meditate on Psalm 139 for even a brief period you will quickly see that God is not unaware of our circumstances, who we are, or where we\u2019re at in life.\xa0 He created us, He knows us, He is working in us even now as I\u2019m writing and as you\u2019re reading this devotional.

And we\u2019re not alone.\xa0 Jesus is walking alongside us.\xa0 The One who has been there since the beginning of time.\xa0 Since before time itself began.\xa0

So, can we see a beginning as we look out to the dreary horizon right now?\xa0 When we turn our gaze upward, God meets us where we are and enables us to remain attentive to see the places where God is moving and creating even now.\xa0 Creating new life in dead places, moments and places for gratitude where the joy of the Lord is found even amidst sadness and isolation, love and unity where there is division and dissension.

In the beginning was God.\xa0 Creator of life.\xa0 Creator of life abundant.