“My Father’s World” is an old hymn originally written as a poem by New York minister, Maltbie Davenport Babcock. It is reported that Babcock loved to take walks to view the scenery of upstate New York and Lake Ontario. As he would leave his home for his walks, he would tell his wife that he was “going out to see his father’s world.” That wonderful attitude led to the writing of this sixteen-verse poem of which a few verses were later set to music.

For the next few blogs, I would like to take lines from this poem and talk about various aspects of our father’s world. For this week let’s think about how nature displays God’s glory.

“This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.”

My favorite line in this verse is I rest me in the thought. In full disclosure, I will tell you that I am not an outdoors person. But every now and then we need to stop and take notice of God’s handiwork. Nature reminds us of the power and security of God. It brings about a sense of peace and resting. Have you ever sat by a brook and just listened to the peaceful sound or quietly watched the sunset? When we see all that God has created, we can rest in the thought of a powerful God who is in control.

We can rest in the thought that if God created the beauty of the earth from nothing that he can certainly make something beautiful out of the mess that we are in if we allow him to work. We have a wonder-working God, and nothing is too big or difficult for him to handle. What a restful thought!

If something is worrying you today, take a look at your father’s world and let him show you his power. Because of his power, you don’t have to wear yourself out trying to fix it on your own. Because of his power, you can rest.

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20) (NLT)