Seeing God Through Travel: A Spiritual Journey

By Dr. Christy Hill

At Grace Theological Seminary, seminary education is deeply personal. This seminary education is shaped by faculty who invest in students as a whole person academically, spiritually, and personally. In this post, Dr. Christy Hills invites you into her story, sharing how she sees more of God’s character as she embarks on a spiritual journey every time she travels.

Discovering God’s World

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” ~ Saint Augustine

I’ve always loved that quote because it captures so much of how I experience God through travel. For me, traveling has never been just about seeing new places; it’s about seeing God’s creativity, connecting with people, and discovering new dimensions of God’s character. Simply put, it takes you on a new spiritual journey with every trip.

My love for travel started early. My parents bought a motorhome, and we often set out on road trips across the country. I loved watching the scenery change from mountains to plains, meeting new people, and experiencing different ways of life.

When I gave my life to Christ, my view of travel changed. It wasn’t just about exploration anymore, but it became about experiencing God and who He is as part of a spiritual journey. It also gave me purpose. Jesus calls us to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Each trip began to feel like an opportunity to see God’s handiwork and His people across the world.

Now, working at Grace Theological Seminary, I continue to see God’s fingerprints everywhere. Whether it’s breathtaking landscapes, diverse cultures, or the kindness of strangers, every trip reminds me of His creativity, grace, and faithfulness.

Three stories, in particular, have revealed God’s character to me through travel.

God’s Beautiful Creation

Travel opens my eyes to God’s creativity, not only in nature, but in the people I meet. Every culture reflects a piece of His image.

When I moved from California to Ohio as a child, I noticed simple cultural differences. People said “pop” instead of “soda” and were eager to share food with me. While we were still in the US, the move showed me how we all have different traditions, worldviews, and ways of thinking.

This taught me that God designed each of us uniquely in His image. 

Years later, snorkeling in Mauritius, located in the Indian Ocean, brought that realization to life in a new way. Beneath the water’s surface, I was surrounded by vibrant coral and sea creatures bursting with color and life. It struck me that God’s imagination is endless, creating worlds we rarely even see. Still, He carefully designed every detail for His purposes.

When experiences and scenery are new, they awaken awe. That moment underwater reminded me how vast God’s beautiful creation is, and how lovingly He sustains every part of it. He is lavish, abundant, and endlessly creative.

Faith is a Spiritual Journey

Travel doesn’t always go as planned. Luggage gets lost, flights are delayed, and schedules unravel. And yet, even in the chaos, God works.

After a recent trip to Greece, our short connecting flight from Chicago to Fort Wayne was cancelled twice. Exhausted, we spent the night in Chicago before finally renting a car to drive home. When my husband reached our parked car at the Fort Wayne airport the next day, the battery was dead.

It seems small, but I realized something: had we arrived in Fort Wayne the night before, there would’ve been no one around to help us. Because of the delay, we had rest, daylight, and help right when we needed it.

God had gone before us! That experience reminds me to hand over my frustration and trust His timing. We often want to reach the destination quickly, but God is more concerned with shaping us along the journey. His plans are always better than ours, even when they come with delays! This helps us grow in our faith in our spiritual journey.

Grace and Access

One of my favorite travel memories comes from a trip to England. My husband and I were supposed to take a river cruise, but after a few wrong turns at one of our stops, we missed the ferry by mere minutes. We were disappointed, but then God turned it into a gift!

The worker of our missed ferry offered to have her partner, who happened to be a Beefeater at the Tower of London, show us inside the tower and give us a private tour of the Crown Jewels as well. It was incredible! We hadn’t earned that experience; it was given to us because of our friend’s position.

That day reminded me of what it means to belong to Christ. We have access to the riches of God’s Kingdom, not because we deserve it, but because of who He is. His reputation covers us.

Just as we got into the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels by the Beefeater’s authority, we enter Heaven through Jesus’ authority. He paid the price for us when we didn’t deserve it.

God’s Hand at Work

Traveling is more than just seeing the world; it’s about seeing God’s hand at work in every culture, every challenge, and in every detail. 

A focus of seminary education at Grace Theological Seminary is learning to see God at work in the ordinary moments of life through everyday tasks, unexpected trials, and moments of celebration. A seminary education does more than teach theology; it shapes how we perceive the world. Through theological education, students are trained to recognize spiritual realities, discern God’s character, and respond faithfully to His presence in every context they encounter.

Here’s my encouragement: keep traveling! As you encounter different cultures, landscapes, and experiences, keep a spirit of curiosity and faith. Explore God’s beautiful creation. You will learn more than you expect! 

Whether I’m across the world or right here at Grace College, I’m reminded that faith itself is an adventure. And with my spiritual journey, I get to read another page of His incredible story.