“God’s Intentional Creation” by Rev. Robin Arnold

by Rev. Robin Arnold

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~ Psalm 139:14 New International Version (NIV)

I may look confident, steadfast and put together on the outside but on the inside more often than not, I wander back to that little girl who questions her value, desires to please everyone and wants to make a difference.

When I sit down at the end of the day and I reflect, there are times I find myself playing the measuring game…

I measure my value by how I look.
I measure my value by my height.
I measure my value by my weight.
I measure my value by how I perform.
I measure my value based on my educational level.
I measure my value based on my family and friend’s reactions and responses.
I measure myself as a mother because I want my kids to love me perfectly, even though they can’t.
I measure myself as a Christian because I want to love others perfectly, but I don’t, so I struggle and I find myself measuring and justifying my guilt.
I measure my productiveness because sometimes I get distracted and waste time.
I measure the value and weight of my word because I want to make a difference, but in my honest effort, sometimes, I end up putting too much on my plate.

And then I begin to stack and measure the “If’s”…

If I were a better mom, I would’ve ____.
If I were a better friend, I would _____.
If I were in better shape, then maybe  _____.
If I continued to work at_____then maybe I would be able to_____.
If I had more money, I would be able to _____.
If I made better use of my time, I could ________.

And the “I try’s”…

I try to be patient.
I try to be kind.
I try not to worry.
I try not to doubt.
I try not to envy or boast.

Then I decide that my efforts are less “than”… and then I beat myself up!
And because I make the decision, that I have “not measured up”, I find myself not content with my own body, my own behaviors, and my own abilities, therefore, I find myself struggling to understand and accept how a perfect God can look past my brokenness. I know in my heart that He loves me, but I sometimes struggle to accept that He likes me, because sometimes I don’t even like myself.

These doubts and insecurities cause me to question my value and my ability to make a difference. They cause me to feel insignificant, invisible and ineffective.

Yet I know that the Bible says the opposite. And because of this, I’m reminded to measure my value by these truths…

I was created in the image of God.
I am sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus loved me so much that He endured a horrific death so I could be saved.

These truths matter. And because they matter, they confirm to me that I matter. And they confirm that you matter too.

We matter because God created us. We matter because God loves us.

What we all should keep in mind, what should be in our hearts and on our lips each and every day is unbridled praise, because the Lord knows every hair on our heads, every breath we take and every beat of our hearts.

The Lord is our creator and His creation is intentional thus invaluable.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. God, help me to accept that You are the One who defines my significance. Please remove my thoughts, doubts, insecurities, and emotions that leave me feeling like less instead of more. Help me to move forward so that I can live out the purpose for which you have created me. In Your Heavenly Name I Pray ~Amen.

Reflection and Response:

Read Jeremiah 1:4-5.

When did God first know Jeremiah?
How does this make you feel?

Faith in Action:
Take a few moments to read Jeremiah 1:4-5 again and personalize them.

About the Author

Robin is an ordained minister and a native of Denver, Colorado, she made Huntsville her home in 1982. Robin is a mother of four adult children, a grandmother of four, a mother-in-law, a niece, an aunt, a sister and a daughter which she thanks God for each and everyday. A powerful, dynamic, speaker Robin uses the gifts of the Spirit to speak from her heart and soul with a genuine love for whom God made her and for what she does. Robin has authored and published Dear God… It’s Me: Spiritual Poetry and Dear God…It’s Me – A Meditation Journal. Currently she is working on Walking Between the Raindrops, a collection of stories by and about people who have influenced her life and What is…Asked Javien a Christian children’s book collection. When asked how and/or why she does all that she does, she simply reply’s…I Am The Lord’s.

Tags: God's intentional creation, Jeremiah 1:4-5, Our City On A Hill, rev. robin arnold, Soul Food