If you’ve read the Bible, you may be well aware of Psalm 139. And if you believe, as I do, that the Bible is God’s inerrant Word spoken to His children, then you cannot disregard the legitimacy of this precious psalm written by King David. Oh, to take these words at face value and truly trust that the God of the universe knows you at the deepest level—a level you may not be privy to yourself.
O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. (1) You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. (2)
I know I’m not the only person who has struggled with my value in this world. And to know without the saving grace of Jesus Christ, my life would count for nothing. When we go through seasons of loss, grief, and betrayal, it’s difficult to truly grasp the magnitude of God’s promises.
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. (13) I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (14)
How can it be that the Lord God knew each of us before we were conceived in our mother’s womb? I close my eyes and try to picture Him actually knitting my body together through His Spirit. Unfathomable, isn’t it? But if you believe in His promises, then you cannot deny this truth. I’ve meditated on these last two verses in Psalms repeatedly. It wasn’t until I read the children’s book You Are Special by Max Lucado that I began to believe it. It was my first assignment from a Christian counselor I saw for a brief time when I felt as if I was sinking into despair—which you may understand as you follow my journey this week. The counselor had me read the book every day and journal what the Lord revealed to me. Never before had a children’s book made me reflect so much on the glory of God. Even today, years later, I cannot read it without sobbing.
My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, (15) Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. (16) How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast the sum of them! (17) Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with You. (18)
Where does your hope come from? If it’s in relationships, material wealth, family or anything else other than the saving work of Jesus Christ, you are standing on shaky ground. My mom pointed out years ago that I viewed the world through rose-colored glasses, which I’ve shared in previous blog posts. I bought the lie that I could have my every need met by my husband and children. I even made promises that I’d provide the same for my family. It wasn’t until my world came crashing down around me that I faced reality. The only Truth worth standing on is that of who God is.
If this sounds like a downer, I assure you it isn’t. There was a time I believed control was of utmost importance—to control my emotions, my children’s behavior, how I was perceived by my husband and peers. All wasted energy. It’s freeing to finally realize that there is Someone so much more knowledgeable, wise, capable, and loving in charge of my life. It’s freeing to know that my job is to be obedient to His lead and leave the rest to Him.
The main characters in each of my novels (and novellas) struggle with the same need for control. I guess you’d say they carry a piece of my personality into their stories. Over the next week, as I celebrate the release of my latest novel, Providence, the last in the Apple Hill Series, I’m going to share with you my journey to hope. It’s the hope I pray infuses everything I write because it’s the story God has put on my heart. Without hope, we have nothing.
If you need that spark of hope in your life, I urge you to step into Psalms, the gospels, Ephesians and/or Corinthians. Meditate on God’s truth and search deep for the hope He offers any who truly seeks it.
Until tomorrow…
Comments 2
It is funny how when I am down it is a verse from one of those that spring to my mind. Thank you, Jennifer.
God’s blessings and HUGS
Amen. I love reading Max Lucado’s books. He does a great job explaining who we are with God. You have also done a good job here in your blog post.