Women’s Devotion: This Big Beautiful World
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Peru in South America. As a child in elementary Social Studies class, I never dreamed I would step on South American soil, much less be taking deep breaths in the thin air in the Andes mountains, hearing the Pacific waves crashing, climbing Machu Picchu, or trekking through the mud in the rainforest along the Amazon in awe of the beautiful flowers, plants, birds, and animals. It was an amazing but humbling vacation experience. As I reflect on this incredible journey, I am again awed by God’s creation of various peoples, terrains, landscapes, wildlife, and weather… all of it! What an incomprehensible, mind-blowing world God created, how small and weak I am, how beautiful and hospitable and kind people are around the world, and how alike we all are as the human family!
This verse speaks of this realization:
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you,
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of every human being.”
Job 12:7–10
God of all creation, on this Easter weekend, with signs of spring everywhere, help us to know what the hand of the Lord has done, to pause and notice the songs that nature is singing. Whether we travel to another continent or step into the outdoors here at home, we praise You, God, that this incredible world in all of its glory never ceases to thrive and thrill! Make us good stewards of this gift! Amen.
This week’s devotion was written by Kathy Paisley who travelled to Peru with Judy Sorensen in March 2026.