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I have heard it said, “I was a mistake.” “I am an oops, baby.” “I was unplanned.” “No one wanted me when I was born.” All of these statements are negative, and hurtful, they cause real and sometimes long-lasting damage to the person they are spoken to. Many times, the people who are saying them, will say, “We do not mean it.” “Its just in fun.” “We love them anyway.” However, when someone hears these phrases over and over, they begin to believe they were never wanted. In the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah writes, “The word of the Lord came to me: I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1.4-5, CSB).[1] Also we find in the Psalms these words, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139.13-16, ESV).[2] In Genesis God said, “Let Us make man in Our Image, Our likeness…So God created man in His Own image, in the image of God He created him; make and female he created them” (Genesis 1.26-27, ESV). [3] God knows each and every one of us, He understands us, and not a signal one of us are a mistake, an oops, unplanned or unwanted in God’s eyes.
See, knowing one’s origins is important and many of us spend a lot of time searching for where we came from, only to find out we are not descendants of any kings or queens; nor do we have any super rich relatives. However, we are all descendants of the Living God, as was just mentioned above (Genesis 1.26-27, 2.7, 18-24). God created the first man and woman; we are all descendants from them. Therefore, to some point we are all related because God is the creator of all things and without Him was nothing made (John 1.4). When people look at us what do they see? Do they see you or God shinning through you? The Psalmist desires was for people who fear (have honor or respect) for the Lord to be able to see the Hope in him. Peter calls us to this same kind of living in I Peter 1.13-25; he says be “sober-minded or have self-control, stand firm on the truth of the Word of God, and set your Hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1.13, ESV, my emphasis added). Our hope, what is it grounded in, what does our life look like to this lost and dying world. The Psalmist’s desire was for a life which to draw people to the Lord, to his Creator, to his Maker, and Savior. He says I want them to see and rejoice, therefore, I put my Hope in Your Word. This had nothing to do with the Psalmist, but everything to do with the power of Almighty God living within him. We to must show others the power of God living inside of us. We need to show the Living Hope (I Peter 1.3), because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. When afflictions come, what kind of reaction will you have? Who will you blame? Do you look inward or outward during your problems? The Psalmist rightly understood where afflictions come from and why. This did not mean he liked them, or even wanted them. But he put them in their proper place. Lord Your judgement is right; Your faithfulness is True—In other words, God knows our every thought and action. We can trust in Him because He will never let us down. This is how we will get through each affliction—By trusting in our God. Now the Psalmist turns to troubles within his life., asking the question, “How will we handle them when they come?” Let’s be honest they will come. Troubles are different than afflictions, in that they are problems or difficulties. Whereas, afflictions are something that causes pain and suffering. Sometimes they can be the same thing, but most of the time they are different. The Psalmist looked to God and His merciful kindness to comfort him. God’s Mercy—His undeserved favor on our lives, when we deserved death, He gave us life. What wonderful mercy, God has given to us. We can take comfort in this. However, its not just God’s mercy in our lives that is important. Its how we come to and understand these mercies. After all God does not have to give them to us. So, when then are we deserving of such a great gift from such a great God? Never! Then why did God do such a wonderful thing? To fully understand what God has done we must be in His Word, and take delight in His Word. By knowing His merciful kindness according to His Word, we will come closer to Him and desire to share His message with others. Even though there are people who do not understand and treat us wrong, we cannot use this as an excuse to get back at them. Jesus said, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5.44, ESV).[4] As we remember God’s great mercy in our own life, we too must show mercy to others. Knowing God’s Word helps us to move beyond the fears, the angers, the desires, to get back at people for what they have done to us. Instead, we focus on His Word which gives us prospective and helps us to remember all He has done and how we must respond to others. Let me be a testimony for you Lord—This was what the Psalmist desired. Anyone who fears, honors or shows reverence to the Lord could look at his life and see he was someone to follow, someone to copy. As long as he remained true to the Word of God; he did not want to cause shame to his Heavenly Father. How about us? What does our life look like in the eyes of our fellow Christians? Do they see Jesus in our actions or something quite different? Are we following the Word of God or are we walking after something else? Are you ashamed of who you are in Christ? The Psalmist calls us to have a heart which is sound in His statutes or Word; so, we will not be ashamed. Application How have you felt about your life? Do you feel as if your life is of little or no importance? Read Psalm 139 and pay close attention to verses 13-16. God does not make any mistakes, each one of us was created for a reason. Look to God’s Word for the answers He will not let you down.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me right where I am. For knowing me before I was conceived in my mother’s womb. Knowing my every move, and yet knowing I would mess up, not always follow You, You still allowed me to come into this world to be a light in the darkness for You. Lord, give me the wisdom and strength to show Your kindness, mercy and grace to those who have hurt me, lied about me, and treated me wrong. Lord, help me to share Your testimonies with those I come into contact with, may they see Your love shine through me each and every day. Help me to never be ashamed of Your Gospel and to always be ready to give an answer for what I believe. It is Your Son, Jesus Christ’s Name I Pray and ask for the strength and power to serve You each day, Amen. [1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Je 1:4–5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers. [2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 139:13–16). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 1:26–27). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 5:44). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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