Nearly 200 years ago, Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution, which says we’re here because of an accident of nature. This can leave us feeling anxious, sad, and confused: What is my purpose? Why am I here?
The very first thing God wanted to reveal about himself and about us is found in the first pages of Genesis. God created the universe from nothing. He created the sun, moon, and stars, the plants, and the animals. God spoke, and it was so, and God said it was good.
But humans are a different story. God formed Adam, the first human, from dust and breathed his own breath into him. God gave Adam a job: take care of the earth God had made. But as Adam named all of the animals, none was good enough to be his lifelong companion, so God created Eve.
What does this mean for you and for me? We’re created by God, for a purpose. Human beings are of supreme value, neither accidents nor mistakes. Not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God gave us life, his own breath. When we’re anxious, sad, and confused, we can remember Adam’s story and know it is our story, too: created by God and valued.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the truth of creation. I am not an accident or a mistake, but you have created me for a purpose. I am valued. I am loved because of what you have done for me. Help me to remember this when I am anxious, sad, and confused. Amen.