Believing What God Says About Me: A Psalm 139 Devotional
My daughter Daisy is 2 months old and when she’s not sleeping, eating or pooping these are the conversations we have…
“You are so beautiful.”
“You are so special.”
“God made you on purpose and He loves you sooo much!”
“You’re going to do big things in the world. “
“The world needed you in it and that’s why God made you.”
“We’re so lucky to have you.”
She smiles up at me with her bright eyes and coos right back, telling me all her special baby secrets and deep observations about life.
I love affirming her–speaking love and life over her–right from the beginning of her days.
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It’s easy to tell a 2 month old how beautiful and special she is.
It’s getting a little harder to tell my 10 year old that–she’s beginning to notice things she doesn’t love about herself. She’s beginning to wonder why “if she’s so special” she didn’t get cast in the school musical. If she’s going to do big things in the world why is she holding a paintbrush instead of a microphone.*
I don’t necessarily have answers.
I can relate though–to the wince of unbelief when someone tells you you’re beautiful or your work has meaning.
If so, then why are publishers not interested in my words? Why do my mirrors tell me I need some makeup (and sleep)? My jeans tell me I’m taking up more space–and not in a good way. Frankly, I’m too tired to do big things in the world.
Maybe believing you’re special gets harder the older you get.
And. Yet.
Psalm 139 says…
You {God} made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
-Psalm 139:13-18
While some days I may feel plain, unpopular, worn, set aside, rejected, or less valuable…I don’t think God’s a liar.
The life-giving words He speaks over his beloved daughter are what’s true.
🩵 I was made with tender loving care.
🩵 God doesn’t make mistakes.
🩵 My days all matter because God planned them.
🩵 What He intends for me I will not miss.
🩵 I’m always on God’s mind.
🩵 He is with me.
When I remember how I feel about my children is how God feels about me–everything changes.
He is the gobsmacked parent smiling in adoration over me:
“You are so beautiful. You are so special. I made you on purpose and I love you sooo much. The world needs you in it and we’re so lucky to have you.”
As long as we live in a broken world things probably won’t get easier. There will be hard days and missed opportunities we really, really wanted.
But that doesn’t change how God feels about us. We can cease striving and simply rest in His love, knowing His craftsmanship hasn’t fallen short and His purposes for us will not fail.
Father, Your love is so pure. You gaze at me with the tenderness of a parent enraptured by His child. Your wisdom and power hold the world together–and you are holding every detail of my existence with the same measure of care. Awaken fresh joy, delight, and contentment in my soul. May I live in the reality of how deeply loved I am. Amen.
*My 10 year old has a better grasp on this than I do. She certainly processed her disappointment, but making the magic happen behind the scenes is bringing her joy! She’s happy for her friends that got parts, grateful for her past participation, and excited for new friends and experiences as part of the crew. 🥲🤩 I’m so proud of her.
