July 30
Standing Up
for God's Creation
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 (NIrV)
Jed and Carol sat across from each other at the dinner table, a large map of their town spread out between them. The issue had been bothering them for weeks. A local developer was planning to build a shopping mall and apartments right in the middle of a beautiful forest area that had been part of their community for generations. This was a place where families picnicked, hikers wandered, and children played. They knew it was going to change everything if the project went through.
Jed had been the one to start the protest. He’d always been passionate about preserving nature and what it meant to their community. He often talked about how God’s creation was something to be cherished, not destroyed. He believed that every tree, every stream, was a part of the world that God had entrusted to humanity.
Carol, though, was more cautious. She agreed with Jed about protecting the environment, but she also understood the need for development. People needed homes and jobs. She didn’t want to seem unsympathetic to those in need, especially as their town had been growing rapidly.
As they discussed the protest, Jed’s frustration mounted. “How can they not see what they’re doing to God’s beautiful creation?” he asked, slamming his hand on the table. “We have to stop them.”
Carol took a deep breath, feeling the tension in the room. She shared his love for the earth, but she could see both sides. “I get it, Jed. But what about the people who need homes? The ones who are struggling to find a place to live? How do we balance both?”
Jed’s mind raced, and for a moment, he felt overwhelmed. Was he being too idealistic? How could he protect God’s world without neglecting the needs of others? He felt torn between two passions—the beauty of the earth and the need for development.
That evening, as Jed walked alone through the woods near their home, he prayed, his thoughts heavy with the weight of his dilemma. “Lord, help me to do what is right. I want to protect Your creation, but I also don’t want to ignore the needs of the people. Show me what it looks like to do both.”
As he stood beneath a towering oak tree, a verse from Micah came to mind: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The clarity came slowly, but it was enough. Protecting God’s creation was important, but so was acting justly, which meant understanding the needs of others and making decisions that were fair and compassionate.
The next morning, Jed and Carol met with local leaders to discuss their concerns. They didn’t abandon the protest, but they also sought solutions that would bring about compromise—a way to develop while still preserving the natural beauty that made their town special. It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t perfect, but together, they found a way to move forward.
Jed looked at Carol as they walked home, a sense of peace settling in his heart. He realized that protecting creation wasn’t just about opposing development—it was about seeking a solution that was just and merciful to everyone involved. He had learned that walking humbly with God meant trusting that He could guide them through the complexities of life, helping them find balance even in difficult circumstances.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for showing me that true justice involves both protecting Your creation and caring for the needs of others.
Help me to walk humbly with You as I navigate the challenges of life.
Give me wisdom to find solutions that honor both Your world and the people You love.
Teach me to act justly, love mercy, and be compassionate toward those around me.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
