In Ephesians 1 Paul gives us an amazing insight. “…even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” (ESV)
That part where He chose us before the foundation of the world. That’s powerful. He knew us before we knew us.
David wrote in Psalm 119,” 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.”
You do understand the implication here, don’t you? The fix is in. Tell that to a guy whose life is falling apart at 55 and expected to be a whole lot more “successful” than this. But, therein lies the problem.
You see, identity is a funny thing. I took on the world’s idea of what success looked like and linked who I was directly to that idea. God was a little bit like my Dad. Strict, distant, and expecting me to perform at superhuman levels and please everyone else along the way. See how the devil distorted that message?
But here’s the TRUTH. God made us unique. Not two alike. Gifted in ways that no one else can match. Part of the Body of Christ. The one that was knitted together in Mom’s womb. No mistake.
And that’s the memo.
Steve
An Excerpt from our upcoming book Embracing Brokenness
