This morning, as I sat down with my Bible, a simple thought caught my attention: “God will finish what He started and make all things right again. In the end, He will fully receive  the glory that is rightfully His.” I nodded in agreement—yes, God deserves all glory. He is everything to us, the One who loves us, cares for us, and holds our lives in His hands. But as I lingered on that thought, another question rose in my heart: What does it really mean for God to receive the glory He deserves, and why should that matter to us? Where does it leave us, His creation? The more I pondered, the more I realized there is something deeper—because when God is glorified, His people are not left on the sidelines. We share in it. We benefit. His glory is not only His due—it is our good.

Key Truth: God’s glory is not a distant spectacle—it is the very atmosphere His children breathe. When He is exalted, His people flourish. His honor is our healing, His majesty is our joy, and His glory is our eternal good.

1. God’s glory is not a distant spectacle

• “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son” (John 1:14, NIV).
• “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV).
  ➡ God’s glory isn’t locked in heaven; it came near in Christ and continues to transform believers.

2. It is the very atmosphere His children breathe

• “For in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28, NIV).
• “The earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3, ESV).
  ➡ His glory fills creation and sustains our very existence—it surrounds us like air.

3. When He is exalted, His people flourish

• “The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11, NIV).
• “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance” (Psalm 33:12, NIV).
  ➡ His exaltation directly results in His people’s blessing and flourishing.

4. His honor is our healing

• “I am the Lord, who heals you” (Exodus 15:26, NIV).
• “But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays” (Malachi 4:2, NIV).
  ➡ God’s name and honor are bound up with His power to heal and restore His people.

5. His majesty is our joy

• “You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand” (Psalm 16:11, NIV).
• “Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His dwelling place” (1 Chronicles 16:27, NIV).
  ➡ Where His majesty dwells, joy flows—it’s not possible to separate His greatness from our gladness.

6. His glory is our eternal good

• “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them” (John 17:22, NKJV).
• “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4, NIV).
• “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17, NIV).
  ➡ His glory is not just His—it’s shared with His children as their eternal inheritance.

Understanding “His Glory”:

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for glory is kābôd, which carries the root meaning of weight, heaviness, worth, and honor. It describes something of great substance and value—like the weightiness of gold, but applied to the worth of God Himself. Psalm 19:1 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God” (NIV), where glory refers to God’s visible splendor and the majestic weight of His presence revealed in creation.

In the New Testament, the Greek word for glory is doxa, which carries the root meaning of brightness, radiance, honor, and praise. It speaks of God’s nature shining forth in splendor and being rightly acknowledged for who He is. John 1:14 declares, “We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son” (NIV), where glory is God’s very character and nature being revealed in Jesus Christ—His truth, grace, and majesty made visible. The word also carries the sense of reputation and honor, pointing to God being recognized and exalted as He truly deserves.

How Scripture Defines Glory

God’s Manifest Presence – The visible display of His holiness and power (Exodus 40:34–35).

God’s Reputation/Honor – When His name is lifted high and recognized (Isaiah 42:8).

The Radiance of God’s Nature – Jesus is called “the radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3, NIV).

The Goal of Creation and Redemption – Everything exists to glorify God (Romans 11:36).

Our Future Inheritance – Believers are destined to share in His glory (Romans 8:17).

Putting It Together

Glory = the weight of God’s worth + the radiance of His holiness + the honor of His name revealed.

God revealing His glory isn’t just Him showing off—it’s Him letting us see, experience, and share in His presence, goodness, and majesty. His glory is our eternal environment.

Stop and ponder that! Sit for a few minutes with these truths and picture your future forever in His GLORIOUS presence!

The prophet Habakkuk foresaw a day when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14, NIV). This is not a faint mist but a flood of God’s presence that will saturate creation. Our future is secure because His plan is unstoppable. His glory will not remain hidden; it will be revealed fully, and His people will live in it. We won’t just know facts about Him, we will fully experience and know Him forever!

Jesus Himself prayed this staggering truth: “The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one” (John 17:22, ESV). God’s glory is not locked away in heaven; it has been poured into the lives of His redeemed. Christ does not hoard the glory of the Father—He shares it with us, making us participants, not mere spectators. We are being transformed in our fullness to be like Christ.

Paul expands this reality when he says, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV). The glory of God is not only something we will one day behold—it is shaping who we are even now. Every step of obedience and every moment in His presence is forming us more into the likeness (glory) of Christ.

This transformation often comes through trials and hardship. “If we are children, then  we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory” (Romans 8:17, NIV). Suffering and glory are not enemies but companions. As Paul affirms elsewhere, “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17, NIV). Our trials are not wasted—they are preparing us for glory.

The psalmist reminds us that God’s glory is not only future but present. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11, NIV). His glory brings us good. His radiance becomes our protection and provision. The very things that exalt His name are the same things that sustain our lives.

Revelation gives us the breathtaking picture of glory’s fulfillment: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Revelation 21:23, NIV). God’s final glory will not only illuminate the new heavens and the new earth—it will banish every shadow of pain, sin, and death. His glory will be the atmosphere of eternity, and it will be our inheritance.

This truth about every shadow of suffering being done away with led me to another question, the Bible talks about us living under “the shadow of his wing”,  how does His “shadow” differ? OH HOW I LOVE THE MULTIFACETED BEAUTY OF GODS WORD!  In Scripture, “shadow” carries two very different meanings depending on whose presence it points to. The Bible speaks of the “shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4) and the “shadow of suffering” (Job 10:21–22), where darkness represents the weight of sin, fear, and the awful heart wrenching brokenness of this world—a shadow that one day will be completely removed when God wipes away every tear and banishes death forever (Revelation 21:4). Yet the psalmist also rejoices in another kind of shadow: the “shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1) and the “shadow of His wings” (Psalm 17:8), where God’s covering presence becomes a place of refuge, comfort, and protection, much like a mother bird sheltering her young (Deuteronomy 32:11; Matthew 23:37). The difference lies in the source—one shadow hides the light and leaves us vulnerable, while the other is cast by God’s own nearness, shielding us from what would harm us. To live in the shadow of His wings is to dwell so close to Him that His presence itself becomes our shelter.

Isaiah calls to us: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you” (Isaiah 60:1, NIV). His glory is not something we wait for passively; it is something we walk in today. God’s exaltation is not separate from our joy—it is the very source of it. When He is glorified, we are satisfied. His glory is our good, and our delight in Him magnifies His majesty.  So come—let His glory blaze upon the earth, and let our joy rise with it!

Life Application:

1. Meditate on His Promises
   • Action Step: Each morning for seven days, read Habakkuk 2:14 and declare aloud that God’s glory will fill your life and home.
2. Live as an Heir
   • Action Step: When facing fear or doubt, remind yourself of Romans 8:17—write “Heir with Christ” on a card and carry it as a reminder of your inheritance.
3. Seek Transformation, Not Just Blessings
   • Action Step: Set aside 10 minutes daily to sit quietly with 2 Corinthians 3:18, asking the Spirit to show you one way you are being shaped into Christ’s likeness.
4. Reframe Suffering
   • Action Step: When trials hit, journal how they might prepare you for eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). Pray for perspective rather than escape.
5. Trust in His Provision
   • Action Step: Pray Psalm 84:11 daily, thanking God for being your sun and shield, and then list three good things He has given you recently.
6. Fix Your Eyes on Eternity
   • Action Step: Before bed, read Revelation 21:23 and imagine yourself walking in that city where God’s glory lights every corner. Let hope ( biblical hope is not wishy washy hope, its CONFIDENT EXPECTATION!) let HOPE anchor your heart and soul.
7. Shine His Glory in Action
   • Action Step: This week, intentionally serve someone in a way that reflects God’s goodness—fulfilling Isaiah 60:1 by letting His glory rise upon you.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Do I see God’s glory as distant, or do I believe it saturates my life even now?
2. How does knowing I share in Christ’s glory change how I face trials?
3. In what ways has God’s glory already transformed me?
4. How can I view my current suffering as preparation for eternal glory?
5. Where have I seen God’s protection and provision prove His glory in my life?
6. What habits in my life could help me “contemplate the Lord’s glory” more consistently?
7. How can I shine His glory in my daily interactions this week?

Cross-References

• Isaiah 43:7 (NIV) – “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
• John 1:14 (ESV) – “We have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
• Romans 11:36 (NIV) – “For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”
• Colossians 3:4 (NIV) – “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
• 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV) – “The God of all grace… will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
• Hebrews 2:10 (ESV) – “For it was fitting that He… should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
• Philippians 1:6 (NIV) – “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

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Closing Prayer

Father, Your glory is the song of the universe and the air my soul was made to breathe. Thank You that in Your exaltation, I am not left empty but filled. Thank You that when You shine, I am warmed; when You triumph, I am safe; when You are lifted up, I am lifted too. Help me to live as one who carries Your glory—unashamed, transformed, and radiant. May my life echo Isaiah’s call to “arise and shine,” not for my own name, but for Yours. And as I wait for the day when the New Jerusalem glows with nothing but Your presence, help me to walk in that light even now. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

In Jesus’ Glorious Name! Amen.