I love summertime. It has this renewed spirit about it. I also get to celebrate our 4th of July wedding anniversary with the whole nation. Fireworks just for us.
I look for the little rescues that come from a vacation or a weekend trip to the beach. It’s a way for me to connect with the heart of God and do a reset from the “drudgery” of life. Or so it seems.
I was reminded of how God really feels about me and how intentional His purposes are for me when John Eldredge sent out his monthly e-newsletter. It struck such an encouraging chord that I wanted to share an excerpt with you.
“Human beings crave meaning. When we lose the meaning of our lives, we lose our way. Our footing. Our perspective and orientation. We may not be able to interpret what’s happening in our stories right now; often, interpretation takes some time. But we can hang onto the truth that our lives are filled with meaning, and that meaning is secure because there is God. And he is good. And we belong to him.
So let’s return to a few of the scriptures that remind us of the value of our lives in the eyes of God. Scriptures that speak of the deep and profound meaning we have in him:
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
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.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16)
The very hairs on your head are all numbered. (Luke 12:7)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10)
What do these scriptures make clear? First that you are not here by accident. You were planned on. Wanted. Needed, even.
You are intimately known, and have been all your life. You were carefully and very intentionally crafted. There isn’t a detail of your life that escapes the attention of your loving God and Father.
You are, in fact, a masterpiece. Yes—there is brokenness and struggle. But you are being renewed in Christ in order for you to fulfill the things he has for you to do. So that you can rejoice in the purposes of your life. Which means, your life has exquisite meaning.
Reread these passages again, out loud. But put your name in them. “You created my inmost being; you knit me—David, Anne, Sue—together in my mother’s womb….I —David, Anne, Sue—am God’s masterpiece. He has created me anew in Christ Jesus, so I—David, Anne, Sue—can do the good things he planned for me long ago.”
I think this will do your heart great good.”
Thanks, John. I needed that.
