When you consider the magnificence of the natural world whether it be oceans, mountains, forests, fields, rivers or the stars, you may feel insignificant by comparison. However, remember you can see God’s greatest creation when you look at your spouse, children, friends, neighbors, strangers, and even when you look in the mirror. The psalmist expressed this same conflict of perspectives in Psalm 8.
Psalm 8:3-8
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
4 What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. NASU
God made human beings his representatives on earth, to care for and to rule over the rest of creation. God gave us the gifts of dignity, purpose and significance. This truth may be hard to believe when we see the depths to which human beings can fall, but Jesus came and paid the penalty for our sins to reconcile us back to God. We can only fulfill our proper role when we are in right relationship with God. As God’s image bearers, we have the responsibility to accurately reflect God in our dealings with one another. We must learn the ways of God. We do not define or identify ourselves, God has already done this. If we accept what God has ordained for us as creatures made in his image, we will also find peace and security even in times of trouble.