Genesis I

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The creation story in Genesis is one of the most critical passages in the Bible; it reminds us all that God is our creator, and He created what we have come to know as our world in a way that He felt would be fruitful for all of his creations.

“And God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.”

The events of the last few months have seemed so starkly contrasted, and perhaps it was this way because God needed to distinguish the light from the dark. The pandemic caused an overcast of darkness on the outside world for many months, but there are many positive takeaways as well. Being indoors all the time has allowed people to spend more time with their families, more parents are considering homeschooling and dedicating more time to their children, and many families are rethinking their plans to put their elderly in nursing homes. Many who have faced some of the darkest times in their lives – those who have lost their jobs, loved ones, or suffered from sickness themselves as a result of the pandemic – are turning to God. These are all wonderful outcomes from this period of darkness. In times of great struggle and need, it is comforting to know that God is there to support and love us; God is there to remind us that there is light.

“And God said, ‘Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, upon the earth.’ And it was so.”

It seems only fitting that the world would begin to see light again when the earth began to heal. The peak hit just before Easter here in New York, and the cases subsided shortly thereafter. Spring and summer are periods of rebirth and renewal; now, people are stepping outside when the fruit is ripe for the picking, the sun is at its peak in the sky, new flowers are blooming every day, and the trees are full and green. Let us appreciate nature and God’s work in all its glory and always remember to be grateful for the earth.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.'”

Recent events have been so focused on emphasizing our differences and portraying them in a negative light instead of appreciating our differences and working together to create a more unified world. We are created in God’s image; we are all different – and He made us this way – but we are not incompatible. Let us embrace our differences and allow them to be beneficial to creating a more just society in the eyes of God.

We have the ability to come together and see the light in the abundance of darkness; the United Nations has projected that an additional seven million lives will be brought into the world as a result of the time spent at home during this crisis. These seven million beautiful lives can and should serve as reminders to us all that life is precious, wholesome, and good.

Now, during this post-quarantine period, it is important to remember to not take God’s creations for granted. When you step outside and breathe in the fresh air, recognize that you are able to do so because of God. When you get in your car to drive to a scenic outlook, recognize that you are able to do so because of God. When you return home safely at night and pray in bed, recognize that you are able to do so because of God. We should appreciate all facets of God’s creation – all facets of life. God created nature, and He made it beautiful. Let us be grateful for all of God’s work and pray for his light to continue to shine through.

“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.”

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In light of recent events, I’ve decided to begin shifting towards more personal, faith-based content. We’re living through a period during which many things can make us feel sad, conflicted, divided, and lonely. This is such an important time to focus on faith and emphasize that we will get through this and come out on the other side with God’s help. In addition to my regular lifestyle content, I feel a strong responsibility as a follower of God to share His message. Starting today with Genesis I, I‘ll be doing a weekly reflection on Scripture on my blog – isabellevita.com. I’ve found the most fulfillment on my blog through my articles talking about life and faith, namely those with @michellereed and @classicallyabby. If you’re interested in hearing Michelle’s and Abby’s insights regarding how faith impacts their lives, I’ll have these articles linked in my bio. In addition to Michelle and Abby, here are some of my other favorite creators who incorporate faith into their content really well: @jeanineamapola @sarahtherese @milenaciciotti @lilaroseofficial @allisonbickerstaff @nateandsutton @meredithfoster @kristinjohns @sazan @lonestarsouthern @torimasters @legitsadierob. I encourage you to incorporate faith into your life to shed a positive light in the midst of these very trying times. If you’d like to join me for my weekly Scripture reflection, I’ll have the first post on Genesis I linked in my bio and a preview posted on my stories. Thank you for all your support thus far, and I hope you’ll continue with me on my journey with God✨

A post shared by Isabelle Vita NYC (@isabellevitanyc) on Jun 15, 2020 at 12:00pm PDT