What Does The Rainbow Symbolize About God?

March 30, 2021/in Entrepreneur Spiritual Growth, Firm Foundations/by Valerie Riese

What Does The Rainbow Symbolize About God?

Our favorite color reveals something about each one of us, and our ministry brand colors symbolize our promise to those we serve. One of God’s most glorious displays of color is the rainbow, so what does the rainbow symbolize about God? Learn more about God’s character through the colors of the rainbow.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Psalm 19:1

As entrepreneurs, our brand is a symbol of our promise. We employ a variety of tools to tell prospective clients what to expect from us, such as contracts, rate sheets, and testimonials. Perhaps the most recognizable and impressionable element of our branding is our colors.

Each color conveys a message, a feeling, all its own. There’s a reason stop signs are bright red. After all, could you take a pink sign seriously? And why does every new couple ask one another’s favorite color on the first date? Because our favorite color reveals something about us, and those parts of us will bring life to everything from our hair and our clothing, to our home and our car.

Reflection Question

How did you choose your brand colors? What do those colors tell prospective clients?

God of Color

Our God knew this when He created color. One of God’s most glorious displays of color is the rainbow, a promise to all mankind, so we’d know what to expect from Him.

Janine’s presentation about color made me wonder why God chose a rainbow as a symbol of an eternal covenant. And why those specific colors? If color sends a message about ourselves and our business, what is God telling us about Himself through the colors of the rainbow?

Janine is a graphic designer, and she recommends Color-Meanings.com to learn about the psychology of color. So I paired the profile for each color of the rainbow alongside Scripture, and I unveiled a stunning portrait of God’s character.

God’s Character In The Colors Of The Rainbow

Red

Red reveals God’s energy and passion. God created the universe. He is omnipotent and omniscient. And He loves us so much that He gave His only son to save us. It doesn’t get any more energetic or passionate than that.

Orange

Orange shows us His enthusiastic and emotional side. The Bible is full of descriptions of God’s emotions, ranging from joy and anger, happiness and sorrow, jealousy and love.

Yellow

Yellow tells us our God is happy and optimistic. God is our God of hope and joy, and He can use all things for good.

Green

Green is a color of harmony and health. Throughout Scripture, God calls us to live in harmony with one another. He is Jehovah Rapha, “The Lord who heals you.”

Blue

Blue assures us that God is trustworthy and loyal. He is Immanuel, the God who will never leave us or forsake us. His love never ceases, and He is always faithful.

Indigo

Indigo reminds us of God’s power. He is the Lord God Almighty, the Alpha and the Omega, the creator of Heaven and Earth, and the Savior of the world. We do all things through His strength, and in Him there is no end!

Violet

Violet reflects God’s royalty and Heaven’s luxury. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Heavens and earth declare of his Glory, of which we can’t even behold his radiance. Heaven is adorned with jewels and filled with mansions for all of us.

Reflection Question

Which of these attributes of God is your favorite? Does your favorite attribute match your favorite color?

Bonus Nugget

Here’s an interesting fact about rainbows. Legend says you’ll find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, but the truth is you’ll never find the end of a rainbow, because it stays in the same place no matter where you go. And so it is with God’s love for us.

Reflection Question

They say a picture is worth 1000 words, so what does your brand colors tell people?

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Valerie Riese

Valerie is a wife, mother, blogger, breast cancer survivor, and virtual assistant. After suffering years of debilitating anxiety, she learned that victory over anxiety comes only through surrender to Jesus. Valerie writes to point women to the Jesus as co-director of Candidly Christian, and as a freelance writer and editor. You can learn more about Valerie at ValerieRiese.com

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

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How to Enjoy Your Work

March 23, 2021/in Entrepreneur Spiritual Growth, Firm Foundations/by Valerie Riese

How To Enjoy Your Work

We all have tasks we don’t enjoy, but we don’t have to wait to be happy. A 17th century lay brother and a little boy’s mother share secrets on how to enjoy your work.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men
Colossians 3:23 HCSB

I have a full-time corporate job I’m not really fond of. While it pays bills, it’s a grind of resolving complaints from one entitled liar after another. Admittedly, I don’t always work as hard as I should. I’m easily distracted because watching the grass grow is less antagonizing. All I want is for my shift to finish so I can get back to writing to point women to Jesus.

I felt a bit convicted during today’s webinar when Janine explained that everything we do in our ministry should be for the glory of God. Surely my productivity in my job doesn’t give honor to anyone, especially God. It’s at times like this that I’m reminded of another worker who wasn’t crazy about his work, and yet he turned it into a career of love and worship.

Reflection Question

Is there a part of your work ethic that is not honoring God? Ask Him to show you an area of your work where you can improve.

When You Don’t Enjoy Your Work

Brother Lawrence was a lay brother in Paris during the 17th century. Through his letters, he left an inspiring legacy. He is remembered for an unparalleled intimacy with God that radiated a magnetic and contagious peace and joy. But his ministry didn’t start out that way.

Brother Lawrence wanted to spend his life at the Father’s feet in prayer, but shortly after he arrived at the monastery, he was assigned to his most dreaded of positions: the kitchen. He disliked everything about kitchen duties, but he had no choice. Prayer time would have to wait until after his shift.

How did he turn a miserable job into a loving, joyful legacy Christians write about centuries after his death?

Writer Nicholas Herman shared Brother Lawrence’s secret in the Christian classic, “The Practice of the Presence of God & the Spiritual Maxims.” When asked how he endured so gladly, Brother Lawrence explained:

So, likewise, in his business in the kitchen (to which he had naturally a great aversion), having accustomed himself to do everything there for the love of GOD, and with prayer, upon all occasions, for His grace to do his work well, he had found everything easy, during fifteen years that he had been employed there.
Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God & the Spiritual Maxims

My favorite part of the entire book is an endearing picture described in Brother Lawrence’s own words.

I have no pain or difficulty about my state, because I have no will but that of GOD, which I endeavor to accomplish all things, and to which I am so resigned that I would not take up a straw from the ground against His order, or from any other motive than purely that of love to Him.
Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God & the Spiritual Maxims

As I read this, I imagine a little boy picking up after himself, and then proudly calling “Look Daddy! I cleaned up for you!”

I remember another, more recent story that shows us how to serve with love. I once read a list of replies from first graders who were asked what love looks like. One boy said that love is when his mother tests his father’s coffee before giving it to him to make sure it’s not too hot.

Don’t you wonder how often she burns her mouth in her gift of love towards her husband?

Reflection Question

Consider the area of your work that is not honoring God. How can you give that task to God as a gift of love?

The Secret to Enjoy Your Work

Brother Lawrence and the young boy’s mother teach us that love and happiness aren’t dependent on what you’re doing; they’re powered by why you’re doing it.

Brother Lawrence’s secret to joyful service was simple: Every little task throughout his day, he did it as a gift to God. He shows us that, while we all have tasks we can barely tolerate, but we don’t have to wait until quitting time to be happy and give honor and glory to God.

Reflection Question

Brother Lawrence wrote: That we ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of GOD, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love for which it is performed.
What does this mean to you in your personal or ministry life?