“You are the one who created my innermost parts;
you knit me together while I was still in my mother’s womb.
I give thanks to you that I was marvelously set apart.
Your works are wonderful—I know that very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14 CEB)
With these words the Psalmist affirms so many things. God is Creator. God created us and as has been said by others, God doesn’t make junk. In fact, the wonders of the creation of humankind is a work of wonder!
These words also affirm that God knows us, creates us, before the world knows us. God “knits us” or puts us all together while still in our mother’s womb. Sometimes that can feel scary because God really KNOWS me, warts and all. Most of the time, I find that reassuring. God really knows me—inside and out. I don’t need to try to hide anything from God since God knows it already.
Earlier in the Psalm we read:
“Where could I go to get away from your spirit?
Where could I go to escape your presence?
If I went up to heaven, you would be there.
If I went down to the grave, you would be there too!” (Psalm 139:7-8)
It just takes too much energy to try to hide from God and when we do attempt it, we lose the ability to lay everything at the throne of God for God to act upon. In our series on the Psalms, “Taking it All to God”, we have been learning that no matter what we feel we can give it to God. In the midst of all life’s joys and struggles, when we feel compassion for others or desire judgment upon them, we can affirm God’s goodness, God’s majesty, God’s power and God’s grace to help us through it.
May you hang on to the knowledge that a good and wonderful God created a good and wonderful you. God knows that some days you may not be feeling kind or loving, but God loves you anyway. You are wonderfully made. Take it to God and let God transform even the worst times into days of praise, joy and thanksgiving.
“God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)