How to Recapture Wonder in Your Life
“Oh, my word, it’s so beautiful!” These were the words I heard from my daughters growing up or my grandchildren when they would see snow fall from the sky and start to stick on the ground below. This scene would seem to almost take their breath away. We would find our children just staring out a window to see such a sight. They just could not get enough of it. “Let’s go try to catch some flakes in our mouth!” they would soon say. Soon the wonder was experienced personally in their lives. “Let’s get our snow clothes on to play in it.”
Created for Wonder
God’s wonder constantly inspires kids. We see and hear about it from children and kids every week in our early childhood or Kids’ Worship areas.
One of the things I love most about kids is their wonder. Everything and anything can be beautiful and amazing. The most mundane can turn into the spectacular. It’s not that they purposely try to find wonder, it’s that they can’t help but somehow easily be in awe of things. From snow falling to puppies to their favorite people—they are in awe.
The simple reality is we were all created for wonder. God designed us with wonder, and our wonder is what draws us to Him. All of God’s creation speaks of Him, and it is full of wonder.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4)
A Time to Relearn
I believe that as adults, we have a lot to relearn about wonder. Somewhere along the way, many of us have forgotten to wonder. We get busy, jaded, or wounded, and often our wonder for things around us disappears from our minds and hearts.
When was the last time you were in awe of the fact that God made you for a purpose? When is the last time you allowed your heart to skip a beat over the fact that you are created in the image of God, and you are loved by Him? The issue is not that there is nothing to wonder about, it is that we have stopped allowing ourselves to wonder. We want to help you recreate wonder in your life. The beauty of wonder is that it has the capacity to draw us in, and, in turn, it draws others in. This is what we want to propose to any adult that wants to relearn what it means to wonder.
Relearn Through Serving
Consider serving Jesus in the Nursery, Early Childhood, Mop’s (Mothers of Preschoolers) program or elementary Kid’s Worship. Those that are already serving in these areas are regularly discovering wonder as they work with those who live it well. The kids you serve, the volunteers you serve alongside, the parents you support, the families you love will all help you discover the wonder God created for you to experience.
When you serve children and young families it will be like you saying… “Let’s get our snow clothes on to play in it.” Just like a child who gasps with delight when they encounter a new fallen snow, may you find yourself gasping in wonder at the goodness of the God who created you. Allow wonder back in. As you embrace wonder, I guarantee you’ll help those around you do so as well. Wonder draws us in and draws others in. May your wonder trickle down and out onto everyone around you.