Week 2 – Fearfully and Wonderfully made

When my husband and I were newly married, we invited my husband’s parents over for dinner. I was a semi-vegetarian and decided to make one of my specialties – vegetarian chili. There was only one problem. My in-laws were farm-raised Iowa folk. There was nary a suppertime that didn’t include beef or pork in their house, and I was 80% sure they would not appreciate vegetarian anything. So I devised a plan. I had found these veggie burgers that had a very similar texture as real meat, and I decided that I would crumble those little meat imposters into the chili. I figured my in-laws would never know the difference and they’d be healthier for it.

 

The night came and I could tell by their second and third helpings of chili, along with their “mmm’s” that they were truly enjoying their secret ingredient meal. That is until my darling (rookie) husband decided to spill the (chili) beans and fess up that they were eating a vegetarian meal. There was no mistaking the look of surprise on their faces and the instant cessation of refills to their bowls.

 

They no longer trusted the chef and simply enjoyed what they were given. Their own preconceived ideas about what should be in their meal usurped their delight in it. If they had simply enjoyed their delicious meal and rested in the fact that it was made to nourish their bodies and bring their tastebuds pleasure, they would have truly enjoyed their meal.

 

Sometimes I think that we are all like my in-laws that night. Our scripture says that our Heavenly Father knit us together in our mother’s womb. It says that we are not just created on some human assembly line. But rather, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. God created each one of us with gifts and qualities specifically engineered to bring him glory, minister to those around us and bring us the joy and fulfillment that comes with a servant heart. But, like my in-laws, sometimes we have other ideas.

 

We think we should have curly hair instead of straight, be the life of the party instead of quiet, or the mind of an artist instead of the mind of an engineer. We fail to truly accept that God knit us together in meticulous detail for a beautiful purpose. He made us to be exactly who we are for a reason. Our job is to keep learning how God uniquely made each of us, to praise Him for giving us breath in our lungs, and then to go out into the world with the goal of using and growing our unique abilities to fulfill the purpose he has given each one of us.

 

Our scripture is there to remind you that you were not casually and haphazardly thrown together like a leftover salad. You were fearfully and wonderfully made – knit together – a masterpiece made in God’s own image.

 

But do you always believe this? Do you trust God’s intentions for how you were made? Or do you sometimes think you could’ve done it better?

 

Take the time to consider how you think about yourself. Reflect on ways you can serve the Lord with your uniqueness, knowing that you were made to be uniquely you for a reason.