FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Don't you just love babies!

It's so hard not to smile when you see a baby: we marvel at their tiny toes, their chubby little hands, their button noses and their rosy cheeks. There is no denying that babies capture hearts and they bring so much joy to even the most jaded adult!

So, where does all that joy go when we grow up?

At what point do we stop delighting in the way God made us?

We stop celebrating all of the things that make us wonderful and start focusing on all that we think is wrong with us. We see these perfect, happy, successful, filtered images of celebrities on TV and social media and want to look like, and be like them. We have all looked at our reflection in the mirror and wished to see something different! We tell ourselves we are too fat, too thin, not pretty or handsome enough; nose is too big, lips are too thin, we are too unfit, and the list goes on!

But, we still keep scrolling social media and feel more unsettled, like there is a heaviness or emptiness that we cannot identify that leaves us feeling unhappy and drained.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we tear ourselves apart like this?

Because focusing on our flaws and insecurities fill us with doubt, and deep down, this desire to change how we look, is rooted in not understanding God's good design and purpose for our physical bodies.

That feeling we get isn't new; it's a problem that stretches back to the very beginning.

When sin entered the world, so did confusion about ourselves, our identity and our value in God's eyes. But, if we walk with Jesus, we can throw off the lies society tries to force on us.

We don't have to value ourselves based on the world's standards and values.

Scripture tells us that the same God who made the stars, breathed life into us and gave us a place of dignity among creation. God's design of each of us is intimate and intentional from the start. We are unique: there is no one else in all creation like us. Only humans are made in the likeness and image of God. Therefore we have a unique role as mediators between God and the rest of creation and God purposely and intentionally made each one of us to fulfil this role!

Instead of seeing our bodies as our enemies we need to recognise that our bodies are an essential part of our identity. God made us as holistic creatures. This means our minds, emotions, and bodies are completely intertwined and connected. Our bodies are not just a container for our souls but an integral part of who we are, with the ultimate purpose of bringing glory to God.

We know that all of God's works are wonderful. And do you know what? We are also God's works!

Our lives may feel small in the scope of creation but each of us is incredibly significant to our Creator.

God made us specifically to be ourselves and not so we can emulate someone else. We are "fearfully and wonderfully made," and every day of our lives was ordained and known by God.

How awesome is that!

God bless