In The Beginning

"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters"

Genesis 1:2

In the opening scene of the world, in the experience of creation, you read about chaos. Genesis introduces chaos almost instantly. This might tell you that it is something that is part of the story; it is something that He knew existed. In Genesis 1:2, you read about His position on chaos. And as Genesis continues, you see His plan to change it.

"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" Genesis 1:2. Here you see that He was "hovering," which tells you that He is above the waters. This tells a very different story when you look at it from the lens that water means chaos. He is above the chaos. He hovers over it, not in it. Hover also introduces a thought to me: what does the distance look like for someone who hovers? I imagine that He is just above; He is not far away, and He is not in the midst of it. He is very, very present above it, though, close enough to be right above without acting upon it. And then He speaks, thus sending order to the formless and empty vault. What was originally waters, or chaos, is now in order: night and day; water and sky; land and sea (Genesis 1:3-10). He spoke this order into existence. From His hovering position, just above, He took what was chaos and created peace. He ordered it according to His will, and He called it "good."

Depression and anxiety are like water at times, chaos. Depression and anxiety create a sort of disorder, confusion, imbalance, and displacement. You might experience a version of this in your own experiences of depression and anxiety. And yet you read in Genesis chapter 1 about His plans to create order. You read about how He speaks order into existence. You read about how He takes the chaos and creates peace. In the moments that depression and anxiety might be keeping you from order, keeping you from peace, imagine that He is hovering over you, hovering over this chaos. He is right there with you, without being inside the chaos. He is just above, close enough to speak, but far enough away to be separate from the chaos. Because remember, He is not chaos; He is order, peace, love, and calm. Depression and anxiety want to create space that is chaotic. He wants to create a space that is organized and calm.

As He is hovering over the chaos, notice how He speaks. He speaks and it is done. He speaks and the sky and water are separated. He speaks and the land and sea are separated. He speaks and the day and night are separated. Imagine now that He is speaking into you. Imagine now that He is organizing your chaos. He is putting distance between things, putting things into place, and creating a space for each piece of your life. And at the end of it, imagine that He calls it "good." This is how He works. He did it then. He does it now. And He will continue to do it.

Scripture:

Genesis 1

Genesis 1:2

Genesis 1:3-10

Reflection:

As you read through Genesis 1, take note of the presence of water.

As you read through Genesis 1, take note of what He calls good.

What is the current chaos in your own life? This might be from depression, anxiety, or the day-to-day challenges. How can you use the way in which He brings order to the chaos to help you with your own experiences?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing order to our lives. Thank you for speaking good into this chaos so that we might be able to experience you in a more intimate and loving way. I pray with gratitude for what you have offered us and given to us in bringing us out of the chaos and into a space of peace. I pray for those who are still in seasons of chaos and that they might be able to hear you speak in such a way that it will bring them out of the chaos and into a place of order. I pray for those who may need to or want to support others who experience this chaos and may need support in putting it back into order. I pray that you can use whomever and whatever these individuals need in order to speak to them for change. I pray this in your Son's name, Amen!