I’ve been part of an in-depth bible study for years, and after taking a break for the summer, we recently started up again (on zoom) with a study of Genesis.  In the first week, we covered the first 25 verses of chapter 1.  I’m sure you’re all familiar with it: the creation story where over the course of six days, God creates the universe and everything in it. 

Given that we’re supposed to read a section of the bible and answer a few questions each day, I was surprised that we were only covering 25 verses for the whole week.  And that only took us through the first five days of the creation story!  We didn’t even get to Adam and Eve.  But, like I said, this is an in-depth bible study and clearly we were going deep. 

Having heard this story numerous times since I was a child in Sunday school, I really didn’t think there was much more to glean.  But then again, God uses the study of His word and the conversations within small groups to help me see things from different perspectives.  Perspectives that invite me to grow closer to Him and deeper in faith.  And that is exactly what happened as we kicked off the study of Genesis.

One of the very first questions for discussion was “what intrigues you the most about the verses?”  I was still thinking about the question when one of the women in my group said that she was intrigued that God created the universe and earth and everything in it over time.  He could have just brought everything into existence all at once, but instead, He chose to create it all over time…six days to be exact.  She didn’t know what the significance of that was, but she was intrigued.

Now THAT got me thinking…

God was intentional in the timing of His creation.  There was an order and purpose that came with each day of creation; each day providing the foundation for the next day’s creation.

Like the universe, we are also His creations.  And He is just as intentional and purposeful with the timing of our formation.  We are not born into this world as complete beings.  Rather, our lives are a continual process of growth and evolution. An intentional and purposeful evolution that brings us closer to God and who we are created to be.

Take a moment to think about the trajectory of your life so far.  If you were to write down the pivotal events on the timeline of your life, what would they be?  I have no doubt that your life’s story thus far would be filled with beginnings and endings.  With mountain top highs and valley depth lows.  With periods of waiting…some that even stretched for years or decades.  There would be significant people in your life who entered at various points and continued to be a part of your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

I imagine that your timeline is full.  Maybe even overflowing with impactful events, periods, and people.  I also envision your timeline to be somewhat linear in that all your life events did not happen at the same time, but rather unfolded over time.  And that who you are now is the culmination of all those factors. 

God is purposely using the timeline of your life to help you evolve into who you are meant to be. 

Clearly, you are no longer the same as when you were a child.  Nor are you likely the same person you were twenty years ago, ten years ago or even one year ago.  Our life stories are constantly evolving.  Each life experience we have – childhood, independence, marriage, loss, betrayal, success, financial stress, parenthood, health issues, recovery, celebration, COVID, and so much more – becomes woven into our stories.  And if we seek God in the midst of these experiences, then we are given the opportunity to grow in wisdom, faith and spiritual maturity. 

God uses the time and experiences of our lives to bring us closer to Him.  To grow in our relationship with Him.  To seek Him more.  To trust Him more.  To open our hearts to Him more.  He uses our journeys to open our eyes to Him and lead us in our walk to become more like Jesus.  He does not waste a single moment, experience or opportunity to gift us with wisdom, love and growth.

Creation takes time.  You are God’s beautiful creation. 

Becoming who we are meant to be takes time.  And God is using every intentional moment to help us grow in love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galations 5:22-23).  From your very first moments, God has had a plan for you.  A plan to complete good works within you and through you (Philippians 1:6).  And with each season of growth that brings us closer to Him, I have no doubt that God looks at you, His creation, and sees “that it is very good” (Genesis 1).

So, I was wrong.

I was not as familiar with Genesis 1: 1-25 as I thought I was.  And I was naïve to think I fully understood those opening passages. It took the observations of a friend to help me see this scripture in another light.  And it reminded me about the value of God’s purpose-filled timing in ALL things.