Seeing God in Everyday Wonders: How Nature and Prayer Strengthen Faith

A watermelon emerges from a small seed planted in the ground, a seed that actually decays before giving way to new life, and from it grows a large, juicy, and vibrant fruit.

When I see watermelon with its radiant red color, its delicate, sponge-like texture, breathe in its refreshing scent, and finally taste its sweetness, I feel a powerful urge to rise, dance, and sing praises to the Creator for this masterpiece of nature.

If just a single slice of watermelon can reveal to us the presence of the Creator and His wisdom, how much more can we strengthen our awareness of God and our love for Him when we reflect on every fruit we eat, every flower and tree we see, and the sun shining so beautifully across the sky. When we pause to notice these details, our hearts naturally awaken to the knowledge and love of the Creator.

Why Do We Bless?

Our sages considered this recognition so important that they established blessings for nearly every wonder of creation. When we see a towering mountain or the vast sea, we recite: “Blessed is He whose power and might fill the world.” When we see beautiful animals, we say: “Blessed is He who has such in His world.”

The purpose of these blessings is to make us pause, reflect, and recognize God through the wonders of creation. Rabbi Akiva explained that just as when you see a beautiful building, you understand the wisdom of its architect, so too when you see the beauty of the world, you recognize the wisdom of its Creator.

To truly “know” that there is a Creator, we only need to look closely at His creations and ask: “Who made all this?” The answer will arise on its own: “God made all this!” By reflecting in this way, we not only affirm God’s existence but also come to appreciate His greatness and wisdom. When we pause each day, step out of life’s rush for a few moments, and look at the world around us, we sense God’s presence, and remember that he is with us at every moment, granting us life itself.

How Can We Receive a Sign From God?

Another powerful way to feel God’s presence is through prayer, by asking Him directly: “Master of the Universe, let me see You through Your creations. Help me notice and appreciate the daily miracles You perform for me. Give me a sign that You hear me and watch over me.” This process is referred to as “building faith.”

Over the years, I’ve noticed that whenever I turned to God with trust — believing He could solve even the most impossible problems, He showed me in one way or another that He listens. Each time He answered, my faith grew stronger and I came to sense that God is always near, hearing my thoughts, and waiting for me to reach out.

When we taste the sweetness of God’s care, and He answers us in our time of need, our trust deepens. The next time we turn to Him, we do so with even greater confidence, and over time our closeness to Him grows stronger.

What Should We Ask For?

Before asking God for something, it is essential to reflect carefully: Is this truly good for me?

Often our desires are misguided. A person may pray for a certain relationship to succeed, believing it’s perfect for them, and when it falls through, they feel unheard. In truth however, God may have spared them from a painful marriage. Similarly, someone may pray for great wealth without realizing that riches bring harder tests than poverty, and that money could blind them to God. Out of mercy, God withholds it.

Not every unanswered request is a rejection — sometimes it’s protection.

When Does Help Arrive?

People often feel that God does not answer their prayers, when in fact they often fail to notice how He has already helped.

There’s a story told of a man in Tel Aviv who bargained with God: if God would provide him a parking space during rush hour, he would commit to wearing a kippah all day. Just as he neared his destination, a car pulled out, leaving a spot open. Instead of keeping his promise, he looked up and said: “Thanks, but I managed on my own. The deal’s off.”

How often do we make the same mistake — forgetting that the very conversation, the help, the encouragement that comes our way is itself God’s answer?

The goal of this reflection is to help us experience God as a real presence, so that our joy in doing His will and learning His Torah grows. When our faith deepens, doubts fade away. We no longer think life is “random” or wonder why we should bother with commandments. Instead, we recognize the incredible privilege of bringing joy to the Creator of all worlds.

Ultimately, there is nowhere to run from Him, because “the whole earth is filled with His glory.” As Rabbi Solomon Ibn Gabirol wrote in his Yom Kippur prayer: “From You — to You I flee.”

By noticing the wonders around us, speaking openly to God, and reflecting on the ways He answers, we strengthen our faith. This provides us with peace, love, and the unshakable knowledge that the Creator is always with us.