I have a friend in Arkansas who uses only white blooms in her landscaping. Boring? Not for a minute.
Impatiens cover the ground with their delicate white petals. Azaleas offer a profusion of ruffled white flowers. Hydrangeas steal the show with their snowy white blossoms against vivid green foliage, and white gardenias delight the eye and scent the air.
Every flowering plant of every color — including these South African lovelies I photographed a decade ago — is prized for its unique shape and form, glorifying its Creator by simply doing what it was made to do: bloom and grow.
Which brings us to you, beloved. Far more beautiful than any flower, you were made to honor the One who created you, to bask in His love and share it with others, to bloom according to His design, season after season.
This month’s verse assures us we are exactly what He created us to be:
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
I praise you… Psalm 139:14
When you look in the mirror, is this the first thought that pops into your mind: “I will give thanks unto thee” (ASV)?
Hmm. Maybe not.
For some of us, it’s more like, “Thanks a lot, Lord, for my thinning hair or this extra chin or my unibrow or these bags under my eyes or…” Instead of rejoicing over our fearfully and wonderfully made bodies, we blame our Creator, our genes, even ourselves for whatever flaws we see in the mirror.
But what God sees is beautiful.
…because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;… Psalm 139:14
Yes, you are “remarkably” (CSB) made and truly “amazing” (ICB). Notice it isn’t past tense. Not, “I was cute when I was a baby, but baby, look at the mess I am now.”
No way. We’re talking right this minute. “Body and soul, I am marvelously made!” (MSG) and “so wonderfully complex!” (NLT).
Even white flowers have faint touches of blue or yellow or pink. We may not see those subtle differences, but God does. He misses nothing.
…your works are wonderful,… Psalm 139:14
Again, our word for 2019: wonderful. In the Hebrew here, it means “surpassing or extraordinary.”
We have no problem praising God for the beauty of His creation. From mountains to oceans to forests to sunsets, “Everything you do is marvelous!” (CEV).
The psalmist is asking us to view ourselves and others with the same measure of grace. To celebrate our differences, and say to the Lord, “What you have done is wonderful” (EXB). Because it is.
His Word says so and our hearts know so.
…I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
However hard it may be for us to admit it, accept it, and applaud it, deep down we know God does not make anything that doesn’t please Him. “My soul knoweth right well” (ASV) that He is wonderful, and “I am fully aware” (ISV) that the works of His hands are also wonderful.
Including you, my friend.
Heavenly Father, help us not only read your Word, but also believe your Word. Wash away a lifetime of lies and give us enough courage to embrace the truth. We are loved and we are lovely. You are more than wonderful and you are more than worthy of our praise. Amen.
Naturally, our special giveaway for July was a wonderful wreath made of faux white magnolias with broad, glossy leaves. At 24” in diameter and 8” deep, this wreath is a perfect fit for your mantel, doorway, window, or dining table. I liked it so much, I bought one for my front door and I bought one for you. Congrats to our winner, Gloria C.!
You are still welcome to scroll down and share your thoughts on what it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made.
Bless you for spending a few minutes of your summer with me!
Your sister, Liz
P.S. If you missed our July 3rd Wonderful Wednesday on Facebook LIVE, watch and/or listen as we get to know Lois and Eunice — two remarkable Jesus Girls. And if you’re curious where I’ll be speaking this fall, take a look at my calendar. Sure would be wonderful to see you!
Fearfully and wonderfully made…
I thank God every morning for all He has given me. He made me uniquely me, and I am like no other. Society tells us we “need to be…”, but God says we are His, just like we are. We don’t “need to be” anything, but believe that Jesus sacrificed Himself, so that we may live again in Heaven in the presence of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are all made in the image of God, therefore we are fearfully (respectfully) and wonderfully (in God’s eyes) made.
Reminders of our beauty because HE created us/me is so great! What we believe in our minds of who we are will then affect how we live and what we do. I choose to hold my head high and encourage all my lady friends to do the same. We ARE fearfully and wonderfully made.
I was in an auto accident a few years ago and had a fractured hand and foot. I was in a wheelchair for 3 weeks . Because I had a fractured hand I couldn’t use crutches. The bathroom door had to come off to accommodate the wheelchair. I was in a boot cast and arm cast. But I prayed to be restored back to the way God had fearfully and wonderfully made me. He answered my prayer.
Fearful and wonderfully made…by God. God made us so we need to be grateful for that. We need to see the true beauty inside of us and love the person we are.
Being fearfully and wonderfully made establishes that I am capable. Because the Lord is my strength and I have His armor, I am able to extinguish the enemies lies, turning them around to remind myself and others that I am uniquely beautiful, and strong. On those days I feel defeated, being fearfully and wonderfully made grabs my attention, putting my focus back on track with my True North.
Fearfully and wonderfully made💖 Oh Lord I Love you so💖
Wonderfully Made!!
Over 72 years I have never liked my appearance, To short, to dumpy, to fat, why can’t I be like……
These few years of growing with my Lord under your messages and testimonies, also getting more in the Word have matured me!!
The children’s song ‘He’s Still Working On Me’ still holds true, even for this old girl 😉
Blessed words “Wonderfully Made!!
I am God’s special possession!
I fearfully love our Lord who gives and gives, even when I am unfaithful.
Wonderfully made, before I was born He loved me. He formed me just so, and He molds me each day.
I love Him!
When I look at my grandson, my heart burst with how much I love him, and how much joy he gives me. Sometimes, he doesn’t obey. He is almost two, and we know what that means. He is discovering that he can make his own decisions, whether to be obedient or disobedient. That is how God made him, and that is how God made me. His heart burst with love for me. We are both (my grandson and me) fearfully and wonderfully made. I look at my grandson with amazement and wonder how God could give me such a wonderful blessing. I wonder if God looks at me with that same amazement. I’m his child and created to love Him and be loved by Him.
Thank you for this amazing presentation on”fearfully and wonderfully made. It is comforting to know that others would do that in front of the mirror. Lord forgive us as we are so often critical of others and ourselves. Just this week the Lord has placed a new Christian in my path and this very concept is what He has allowed me to encourage her with. Just yesterday the devotion from Proverbs 31 Ministries was on “fearfully and wonderfully made”. Our Lord is so amazing… He places our needs in front of us daily. I am always saying “thank you Lord for the people you surround me with” A FRIEND SHARED THIS WITH OUR book club. Thank you oh Lord for sharing Liz with us and that not only does she share her gifts with us through He literature, but she shares her heart ❤ for you with us in this format.
Delicate flowers are such a great example for this. They tolerate very little handling and it must be so gentle. The petals will fall off and wither and die very quickly. But when they are pruned, and the soil is properly cared for they will spring up new shoots and be restored in the proper season and climate. Another great scripture comes to mind in John chapter 15. Regarding Jesus being the vine and the branches… And the pruning required to bring full life.
Thank you For sharing your heart and encouraging us to better view ourselves and others, and to share our hearts.
Jesus Bless You ❤ Karen
What a beautiful and glorious gift to be made in God’s image, and to be reminded in his Word! He has created each of us to be uniquely who we are, for a reason, and for His glory. We need to remember that. ❤
Most of the time I feel very inferior to most. I look deep into myself and truly can’t believe God thinks I am wonderful and beautiful. I try to take care of my temple, but I still feel that God must love others more then me.
But with your encouragement Lizzie I try to see and believe the words of the bible, to know that I am special, and wonderfully and fearfully made.
I am fearfully and made. Because I’m made in God’s image. So beautifully and wonderfully made that he has known and loved me even before he placed me in my mother’s womb. He died for MY sins to give me eternal life in perfect dwelling in His presence…Praise His holy name!!🙌
It’s very easy for me to recognize the “inside” glories in myself and others, but I am so critical of my “outside” and constantly compare myself ( my extra pounds, wrinkles, etc.) to others. I have to daily remind myself that by being critical of myself, I am criticizing my Creator, and that’s soooo wrong! This 65 year old body was made to give glory and reflect my Lord, and His light will shine when the focus is off the mirror and on Him.
I needed this. Thanks for the affirming post Liz. May you have a great week.
Hi Liz.. I was born with a syndrome which makes me unique in many physical features. Approaching age 60, I can finally say I am fearfully and wonderfully made. As a child, and young person however, it was difficult to love God’s design. God has poured out his truth over me, and likewise I wish to impart the same with my kids and grandkids and others with unique characteristics. Learning to embrace God’s special design, and bring grateful for who he has made us to be, His treasured possession!💕
I am sitting here in tears. I am soon to be 37. I married someone who abandoned me nearly 5 years ago. I couldn’t even divorce him because he was living with his mistress somewhere out of state. I started going to Christian counseling almost 2 years ago and I was finally able to get a divorce late last year. I am finally at a place where I can date and where I feel ready to date. And now I am 37. Like our beloved Lizzie, God couldn’t fit all of this personality and this big heart in a tiny package. I joined Eharmony because the only people that I hang out with are women and other people’s children. I read profile after profile where they describe character traits that I have as being most important to them in a partner. I send them smiles and they never even look at my profile. Some even block me. The rejection hurts. I needed to read these words today.
I love you Lizzie! 😘❤️❤️
Thank you Liz. Today I woke up and jumped on the scale. I gained a pound. My heart dipped as my thighs grew. I went to the sink and washed dishes as if I wanted to scrub my fat off. I was depressed and so immersed in my misery and self-shame that I didn’t notice the birds singing or the flowers blooming in beauty out my back window. Then I sat down with a bad attitude and started to scroll through my messages. Yours popped up and I was amazed at how God could orchestrate the words I was reading. Thank you for reminding me that our God looks on the inside and the world on the outside. He sees my heart of compassion and my hears my soul language as I sing to him and play my piano. He wants me to rejoice in His workmanship of me…specifically and wonderfully made for Him. Forgive me Lord my short sightedness. Thanks Liz xo
Thank you SO much for this reminder!!! I am a stress eater and unfortunately this year has been one of my most stressful. I am unhappy in my skin at the moment. I am working on healthy changes but needed the reminder that God loves me and I’m beautiful no matter what I look like! Looks are superficial but it’s hard to not make it a bigger priority at times. I will choose to show Gods love and share this loving message with others while I work at being comfortable in my own skin again.
This post is wonderful. It reminded me of the book written by Dr. Paul Brand & Philip Yancey, Fearfully and Wonderfully made.
On those days when I tend to find fault with my appearance, I need to be mindful of the Creator and give thanks. Give thanks always.
As I grow older I can appreciate and be thankful that I am wonderfully made by our creator. May God bless you ministry,Liz.
We are His creation, too, so of course we are lovely in His sight. Why is that lesson so hard? We carry things we were never meant to carry. Thank you for your beautiful words.
Lizzie,
Did you know that the ‘white’ flowering plants are the strongest in the plant world? And that the ‘white’ flowering plants are the best selling in any nursery?
When I look at the white blooms I am reminded of the goodness that the Lord places in us.
I have no problem believing others are wonderfully made, but when I look in a mirror I struggle to believe it myself. But God spoke to my heart one night and helped me see myself in a different light. So instead of focusing on the faults I try to see myself as He does! And apparently He looks more to the heart than the outside!
Beautiful! Well said.
I am truly thankful to be fearfully and wonderfully made by my heavenly father. Even though my mirror reflects many flaws brought on my age, time, and my own sin the reflection he sees is perfect only because of the precious blood of Jesus. Each and every scar both inside and out is being used for his glory. Praise his holy name!
I’m working on accepting my body as it is and every verse I read this morning reminds me God made me this shape. I am dearly and wonderfully made!
Thank you Liz for reminding me of God’s love in his creation. When I first met you in 2007 you gave me so much to think about.
At this stage of my life I really appreciate how God has touched me, and I can finally love myself because God loved me first. I’m fine just the way I am, fat tummy, double chin, Rheumatoid Arthritis and all. God is with me always. He’s also blessed me with women like you, who enrich my life everyday. To Him be the Glory!
I look around the room and always compare myself so negatively with all the other women I see. I struggle with this, and have your TA DA sticker on several mirrors! But I do believe that I am a child of God and he loves me just the way I am. When I think about the miracle of the babies in my life I am amazed at how we are all fearfully and wonderfully made. I am thinking that maybe that is how God sees me too.
Oh, how much I needed the reminder to thank God for how fearfully and wonderfully I am made! I have lived with Lymes disease for 30 years this month and this wonderful body of mine has sustained me through it all. As I am getting older, my body is shifting and changing which is not always pleasant. But my spirit remains young and I can still praise and thank the Lord every day for all He has done and continues to do for me.
I believe fearfully and wonderfully made means we were made to respect God and for the delight of God. We were made for God’s purpose.
This verse reminds me matter what I see on the outside I am strong, beautiful and amazingly wonderful on the inside!!
This was beautiful, and very timely too. I have been going through a heath crisis this summer and I have been thinking of how “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” and how He knows every cell in my body. Nothing that is happening in my body now is a surprise to Him. That has been comforting me! Thank you for reminding me to say that when I look in the mirror!!
Good to know & believe that God made me and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Some days it is easy to see the fearfully and wonderfully made, others not as much. The verse encourages me as I can easily see, by other’s comments that it is encouraging them. Two friends call me the name Beautiful don’t really know if they do it for everyone but this verse sounds as though God calls us Beautiful and has made us just right. A message so many woman especially need to get. Thanks for the reminder. May God bless your day. I had watched your last Wonderful Wednesday 1st Wed in July and I had a customer named Lois yesterday. Told her all about you speaking on Timothy”s Mom and Grandma. She is going to look you up. Think it made her day. You bless so many of my days. Keep up the great work!
Ah, Liz, when I’m doing or reading or writing or studying, I can believe that I’m am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Then I look in the mirror. And I see burnt holes in a blanket for eyes, thinning hair, thickening belly, and the evidence of Bells Palsy in my crooked smile and drooping eye.
Thank you for this reminder that I have eyes and hair and belly and smile. Especially for the reminders that it all functions appropriately and that God is sovereign. He doesn’t make junk. He makes things (and us) for a purpose. Our job is to find that purpose and rejoice in being who and what he created us to be.
Good to hear from you again, Liz. God blessed me with a husband who still praises my body after 4 decades of changes which keeps me believing I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Thanks, once again, for bringing the encouragement we need today. During chemo treatments I have been asked not to dye my hair. Yikes! That gives me quite a different view when I look in the mirror. I’m learning to thank him I still have hair, especially when so many of my sisters going through cancer treatments do not. Reflecting his image doesn’t depend on hair color or body shape…it comes from the inside. Blessings to you, Liz!
Thank you again for this timely word, dear sister in Christ Jesus. My self loathing has gotten pretty bad over the last few months and I fight it all the time. I so need to hear what God has to say about me again., and praise Him for I am wonderfully made just like He wants me to be. <3
I’m beautiful to God. I am in awe of His love, His purpose and His ever reaching grace!
Thanks for this reminder I liked the reference to the touch of pink on a white rose.
To be fearfully and wonderfully made is to recognize nothing about me is by accident or not known by God. I should rest that I am fully known by Him inside and out.
OH, what joy to know our Father loves such a person as me! That it is not my earthly appearance , but my soul, that matters to God.
Thanks be to God!
I am thankful that God has chosen be and that He made me beautiful in His eyes. He will never leave me my rock and fortress His steadfast love carries me through every day
When I ponder on fearfully and wonderfully made, I am in awe that our Lord and Saviour totally loves unconditionally. We must remember this! Sometimes, I am very critical of the way I look and wish for less grey hair, less weigh on my body and thinner legs . . . but then if I allow His still small voice to come thru my loud silly thoughts, I realize that I am made just the way He wants me. So why can I not accept me just the way I am made. That is what I need to focus on. So with His help, I look in the mirror though His eyes and smile. Cause I know He is smiling too. Have an amazing July. Love you sister.
Beautiful reminder to count this special Blessing in our life; reminders help us rethink, refocus, remember so we strengthen ourselves.
My 71st birthday is this Saturday, July 13.
I praise Him for eyes to see and ears to hear the sights and sounds of Our precious family and friends, and His marvelous creation around us.
What an amazing Heavenly Father we have to give us hearts to love so deeply and to grieve equally as deeply when we suffer loss.
We indeed are fearfully and wonderfully made! And great is His faithfulness!
Oh, my! How thankful I am the God sees me as wonderfully made! Most of the time that’s NOT what I see!
“Fearfully and wonderfully made” scripture has always had such a wonderful meaning for me as I was born to my mother who had just turned 15 and raised by my grandparents, never knowing who my father was until just before he died; feeling sometimes like I never really belonged to anyone. Focusing on this scripture made me know that God had a perfect plan for me and my life and being raised by my grandparents in a Christian home – don’t know if I would have had that tremendous upbringing had my natural mother raised me – I never regret where God placed me.
I believe being “fearfully and wonderfully made” means I can boldly speak of God’s love, grace and mercy, just as I am, using the gifts God gave me.
Thank you for that encouragement. So often I don’t feel wonderfully made as my body struggles with so many health issues. But God is awesome and even in those struggles I know that not only does He hold me but He is training me to be who He wants me to be. Thank you for re-focusing my thoughts.
Thank you Liz for these encouraging words this morning. A great reminder that “I’m fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” even with my aches and pains and chronic health conditions of a senior “He knows me” what reassurance . This is one of my favorite psalms, thank you again.
As I look upon my beautiful new granddaughter it’s so easy to see her beauty and awesomeness! She is perfection with milky smooth skin and clear sparkling eyes. But, like you said in your reading, when I look in the mirror I see weight gain, eye bags, and a middle aged, less desirable version of who I once was. “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart”. Thanks Liz for the reminder that no matter what effect the wear of the world has on this body, my heart can be beautiful and a reflection of His love to others. 💕
Hi Liz and thank you for the wonderful works you share with us!
I have come to realize that my purpose in life is to be a “servant” to God by serving everyone I can.
My life has been filled with heartache and disparity. I have worked and worked and tried to please everyone all the time and always put myself last.
Most of the time I would whine and complain about how people used me and didn’t appreciate me and hurt my feelings.
Then I finally realized that God made me to SERVE! He gave me talents and abilities that some other people don’t have. Because I was wonderfully and fearfully made by Him.
Now my works come with joy!
Everything I do now gives me so much joy. No matter how much I work or how many people ask me to do things I see this service as my way to love and serve our God!
My prayer each day is for the Lord to remind me that I AM HIS SERVANT!
I never thought about this verse in present tense before. That we are wonderfully made now. To see it and say it in a positive way. To thank God for how you are today. I am sharing this with my friends that I met at an eating disorder recovery clinic. Thank you Liz!
Since we are made in His image, that automatically makes us wonderfully made! When we see ourselves we see a jumbled Picasso image, but God is perfect and sees us as perfect. No matter how much makeup and hairspray may cover our imperfections, our hearts in Christ are perfect!
Good morning, Liz!
First of all, I want to thank you for all the books you’ve written that have blessed me and many others. My child and I read the parable books and still have them to pass on to her son!❤️
To be fearfully and wonderfully made means that I am created in God’s image and “embroidered” exactly like He wants me to be.
Martha
Thank you, Father, for the wonderful combination of our bodies, minds and spirits. For how unique each one of us are and how we are the body of Crist and when we work together, it is beautiful. Thank you for my life, my body, mind, and heart and for the Holy Spirit in me healing the hurts of this world and making me more like Jesus.
Fearfully and wonderfully made. …
My grown daughter said Mom! I got the worst part of everyone. She has inherited every physical genetic defect. God gave her a heart of gold and the tenacity of a mama Bear ( which is her last name. ) A grandson has severe autism. At seven he has few words, cannot play with other children, no baseball, board games, or knowing the consequences of his actions. God gave him a smile that shows his true heart hidden to most under the weight of his burden.
As I have had time to reflect on my body and what it has gone through, illness, surgery, giving birth to two boys and watching them grow into men a stature, and all the things I have been able to accomplish through work and play, it is amazing to me how all the parts work together to make something good happen no matter what I am doing. Even in my now “golden years”, I am still able to craft, crochet, play games, travel, and many other things. Most of all to make it to worship every week and be able to thank God for all He has done in and for my life. Fearfully and wonderfully made to do His work through Bible study, worship, and telling of His glory.
I have been meditating on these very verses all week as I await the birth of our daughter’s first baby. Precious words.
Hi Liz!
What a wonderful email & always the most beautiful pictures, thanks for being you!
I am fearfully & wonderfully made means that I am worth it. God has created me with every crevice & quirk, He knows me better than I know myself. When I look in the mirror or at anyone else, I try to see Him. I am connected to The Vine & can bloom with the nourishment He gives me. I can also admire the blooms around me, like you Liz!
What it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made? I am made in God’s eyes to be unique. I don’t have to be fearfully made to know God’s love and love that God loves me even when I mess up.
If I were to win the wreath, when I display it, I can tell all who enter how they are fearfully and wonderfully made. I can share with them what you shared with us Liz. I can also tell them that like the white flowers, we are now white as snow (as the old hymn use to say).
To me being fearfully and wonderfully made is being the image of a God who loves me enough that He took time to make into a special person. He made me to worship him.
You nailed it! Those thoughts of looking in the mirror and seeing only the lines, wrinkles, etc. As a nurse, I know how unbelievably and amazingly complex our bodies are. They could only have been created by a MASTER artist, scientist, designer, builder by an omniscient and loving hand. All of which makes His knowing “right well” “before I formed you in the womb I knew you” so precious! Thanks for the reminder of how much we are cherished by the Father!–
When I think of this verse stating we are “Wonderfully and Fearfully” made it makes me remember that God made me this way. We were made in His image and we are to “shine” in this dark world so that people can see His light and know that He lives in us.
God takes away our fears and gives us His peace that surpasses our understanding. I thank God for the life He has given me. I thank God for almost 64 years here on earth and look forward to meeting Him one day at my forever home.
We are all Wonderfully made by our Creator. Praise God for His lovingkindness toward us.
I was just having trouble with this yesterday looking at my thinning hair. I was having to repeat over and over to myself, God loves me, my children love me and I have a great personality. This has been a long road for me. After my husband left , I wasn’t feeling very pretty or confident. Then it got worse. I had a bout with breast cancer around menopause time. The Lord lead us through, but, my hair and eyebrows did not come back, which made me feel even less attractive. I withdrew and just thought, I’ll take care of my children. As they’ve left home, I’ve had a choice to make. Either stay home alone or get out and face life with thin hair and eyebrows. After a second bout of cancer, the hair and eyebrows don’t seem to matter as much, but some days the devil is after me to tell me how unattractive I am. I’m better able to throw those doubts off with the Word of God. Your post came at a wonderful time. Thanks so much
I love the idea of only using white flowers, I need to do this! What it means to me is that I was made on purpose. God doesn’t make mistakes. So I can quit striving and trying to be someone I’m not. I’m loud, plus size and a people person, not the smaller timid quiet in church kinda gal that I want to be, ha! God is using my big personality and it’s more about HIM than me!! John 3:30!!!
What a great reminder! Thanks Liz!
Liz as I read this message of encouragement and love this morning, my first though was this.
God’s view of beauty is so much greater than ours. We have a tendency to think beauty has to be perfection, but God sees beauty in inperfection.
Heavenly Father, thank you for beauty the way you see it. Show us beauty in ourselves and other through your eyes. Remind us we are all created by you.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen
Thanks Liz, I have read this scripture more times than I can count but today with your words added to His, I understood it differently.
Well done, as always you are a good and faithful servant!
God smiles when you write the words that TEACH His Word.
Tebby Coffer
Magnolias were my mom’s favorite flowers. July 7th is the anniversary of her death in 1995. She died of pancreatic cancer when I was 38. July 11 was my mom’s birthday. Every year since her death, God will draw my attention to the magnolia trees and bushes around me. I have several wonderful memories of my mom, but the two I’m most fond are of my mom sitting under the magnolia tree at the end of a long day, and sitting in her rocking chair with a Bible on her lap. As I’m in between mom’s death and remembering her birthday, God once again caught my attention through your devotional. Thank you for helping me remember.
I have difficulty believing the wonderfully made part. Fearfully? Yep. I’m fearful every time I look in the mirror. Time, menopause, and gravity have not been kind! Sometimes, though, when I see a beautiful flower, bird, or another of God’s creations in nature, the Holy Spirit reminds me that I too, have been created by the Master Artist. And then I see myself, however briefly, the way he does.
Thank you, Liz, for all you do to remind us of that!
The orthopedist says I need a knee replacement. He said ‘it wont be like the knee God gave me’. That makes me laugh, the knee I have is not the knee God gave me. This one is old and full of arthritis! haha
Hugs, Lisa
Fearfully and wonderfully made………I should not compare myself to others….what they can do, what they have, how they dress. God made me to be me!! I am beautiful, I have a beautiful life. I have because of God!
I have to admit, I have a hard time liking how my body is aging. I’m thankful that having only one breast and an artificial knee doesn’t matter to my Lord! Thank you for the reminder I Am Being Wonderfully Made!
Isn’t is remarkable that no two humans are exactly the same?! Our God has unlimited creativity, as evidenced in mankind’s uniqueness.
Isn’t it remarkable that no two humans are the same?!
Our God has unlimited creativity, as evidenced by mankind’s uniqueness!
I am God’s masterpiece!
This is a verse I keep running across this week. It has come at a time when I am reflecting on my appearance. My husband died when we were 48, it’s been 6 1/2 years and not had one man has express interest in dating me. If I let it, that fact can be depressing BUT GOD has been revealing the truth to me that I am whole in Him. He is enough and He finds me stunning, not just okay looking, stunning!
Thank you for sharing this.
“Fearfully and wonderfully made”;
not wonderfully “performing well”;
not wonderfully “producing well”;
“Fearfully and wonderfully made” is passive not active, which means the best way to try to understand all it means is be quiet.
When we consider every function of the human body, the miracle of a baby growing in the womb, the calculating ability of the human brain; how can we not see that we are fearfully and wonderfully made? All of the details about the human body make us gasp and stand in awe of our creator. Who is He who so mightily and powerfully created something so amazingly complicated and extraordinary! Understanding that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made, helps us as Christians remember that we are also holy because He is holy. We are able to then care for and hold ourselves to a higher standard…set apart for God our creator. We care for our body, not worship it. We are thankful for how it functions. We cherish life in the womb because we know that life, too, is fearfully and wonderfully made by our God.
Fearfully and wonderfully made means Just as He made me. No shame, no comparisons, just being loves as I am by Him.
Blessings!
First of all, I want to let you know what a joy you are to me. I needed this Wednesday verse and message. To know God made me just like he wanted me to be is a comfort no matter what happens day to day. I rejoice in the fact that I am Gods and he is there all the times, good and bad. I try to praise him everyday and not forget Him during the good days. Bless you Liz and keep the humor going!
Sometimes it’s hard to keep in mind that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Though the human body is AMAZING in itself, wow! But when you read the words you are reminded of that fact and more. How incredible one is, thank you Lord for Your creation of me and others. Amen! Blessings!
Liz, oh how your ministry blesses me & teaches me! I’m 67 an until 3 years ago I lived a very defeated Christian life. I didn’t understand grace nor how God could possibly Love me with all my flaws and failures. Praise God, I now not only know about God, I know God. Huge difference! Thank you for your wonderful Wednesday message that we are beautiful and fearfully and wonderfully made! I now know that I am God’s masterpiece!! Thank you for helping me sooooo much on my spiritual journey!! I love you Liz!!
Our amazing and wonderful creator designed and planned who we are and knew us and loved us even before we were born. We are each special an unique and designed by the Master Artist!
It is almost impossible to get the “fearfully and wonderfully made”. One of those spiritual truths you learn to walk in. But till you do there is only limited freedom to be all God created”me” to be. In all His creations in the entire universe, every star, every planet, every creature, every plant, the millions and millions of people he has created, he love me enough to create only ONE!! Not only did he create only one he did it fearfully and wonderfully. As if that alone wasn’t enough he has a plan, a perfect plan just for me!!!!!!
Blessings to you today in your journey.
Liz this was a sweet reminder that no matter what stage we are in life, we remain beautiful in His eyes😊 As a 72 year old, when I look in the mirror and see all the external changes happening to me I need to remind myself it’s not all about external beauty. My desire is to share and live what God has taught me through the years. I am uniquely His! Imagine that😇
Thank you for the reminder. I confess I don’t always feel
It when I look in the mirror or when I see how I behave and react in certain situations. We are His work and it says we are wonderful. I love ❤️ The Lord and don’t want him to be ashamed of me ❗️
We are all unique and beautiful in the special way God created us!
Fearfully and wonderfully made…….just WOW!! Am I really?! Well that’s what God tells us and if that’s what HE says…..then I believe HIM! And why would we even doubt it. We were created by the hand of God himself. Each of us made unique with gifts that use to glorify the one who made us.
To be fearfully and wonderfully made, is to be in total surrender and adoration to the King. the One. The Only.
The God who knows my thoughts – even before I think them! (And they can be some crazy thoughts!🥴)!! I know I make Him laugh and he shake his head sometimes. He still loves me. He made me unique and designed me as I am, for this time in the world.
He is loving to me. So much so, that he lavishes his sweet love into my whole being. He takes care of me. My every need is his. He knows me.
It is rest. Even in the unknown.
I’m okay- just as I am.
I have fullness of life, because Jesus is mine.
We are loved and we are lovely, fearfully and wonderfully made, love this so much. It is so hard not to question this when we look at our lives in the rearview, and our present face that has changed, aged, been beaten, battered and torn by a world so hard. But, to embrace it, to feel it in the lines of your own song, is to find that amazing grace of our Lord, who choreographs truly beautiful notes in the individuality, one of kind, treasure of who we were made to be, growing in His image, breathing in His life, filling us up with His love.
Thank you, Liz! I’m passing this onto my 29 year old daughter. If only EVERY girl would take these truths to heart EARLY in their lives, hide them away in their hearts, and “draw” upon them DURING their lives! I plan on keeping this one handy to read again and again.
Blessings!
Dana
I’ve heard that a garden of white flowers is called a moonlight garden as the flowers seem to glow and reflect the moon’s light at night.
Having reached 65 myself this year, instead of focusing on my wrinkles etc., I can see myself as the Lord’s moonlight garden, able to reflect His light and love.
God doesn’t make mistakes. Even though I sometimes forget that I often go back to this thought and it helps me remember that I have made in His image. Thank you, Liz, for this reminder today!
Thanks Liz for the reminder today that I am fearfully and wonderfully made! As I look around at the culture of hurting people, who so desperately need to be told they are loved by the One who created them, it reminds me to share His love with all those I come into contact with today.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made so that I could be strong enough to have a premature baby and spend 2 months driving to the hospital each day and so I could endure watching two of my children come close to death before receiving a gift of a new heart. So that I could manage the raising of 4 children over two decades, and so that I could support my husband in creating his business to support our family. I was made this way so that when my son died at age 19, I would be strong enough to grieve faithfully, and so that through all of the ups and downs in this life on earth, I would constantly and faithfully lean on the almighty God.
Although I currently have physical trials to go through I know I am fearfully and wonderfully made and his healing grace will cover me.
God gave us life. He designed and created us to be one-of-a-kind, unique individuals, made in His image. The trials of this world can alter our outward appearance, but it can never change the fact that God created us in His image… our identity is in Christ. As a daughter of the King, I must rejoice that “I am His and He is mine”.
May the One who loves us the most help us through our physical, emotional, and spiritual trials. He is beautiful, therefore, so are we. 💕✝️
Fearfully wonderfully made WOW! How great is our God, I’m Gona look at myself different now when I look in the mirror, I never took the time to think how fearful and wonderful I was made by God, ther are things I don’t like about myself but God made me that makes him wonderful, he makes all things beautiful and he doesn’t make any mistakes WOW how good is that, oh what a mighty God we serve!😁..thank you God for for your wonderful hands, thank you for everything yu do, thank yu for your love you are my everything.. hallelujah!! Amen!
When I became born again, I always had a difficult time thinking of being special in my own right. You see , I was the last to be chosen when a team was choosing members, not in the “In crowd”, always an outsider. Academicaly, I was on top of the heap. I was bullied as a child, and sometimes as an adult. I really learned that that God knew that was special in his eyes. Sometimes I still have to be reminded of his gift
“God doesn’t make anything that doesn’t please Him” — such true words! I have never thought of it that way before, thank you Liz for that insight!
I’ve always been amazed by the wonder and complexity of human life…how our bodies work so intricately (mostly without our interference!). Whenever I read that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” I think of biology! 🙂
Fearfully and wonderfully made – WOW! That God took such time to make me exactly as He wanted me. Recent years and circumstances have brought me to accept this truth better and not be so critical of what I see as flaws. Perfection is His to define, not mine!!
God knew I needed to hear this today. I have struggled with self-image as far back as I can remember. God loves me and He made me, so who am I to be complaining? Thank you, Liz, for your gentle reminder.
When I think about how I am “fearfully and wonderfully made”, I thank God for making me so unique and special. We naturally look for our faults, but God sees his beautiful creation in us!
Good Morning Liz, Thank goodness for your uplifting message this morning. I know you’ve recently moved so you know what a huge job it is especially when downsizing. I needed to hear how glorious he made our world and our bodies cause right now with aches and pains of moving it doesn’t feel so glorious. Bless you, love your messages.
Your right dear sister we listen to the lies and look in the mirror to see what others want us to see. However God see us for what He has done. He gives us each day our portion, and so many times we miss the gift. We get so busy trying to be and do what others want, we forget we are beautifully and wonderfully made. Thank you for the reminder. Please have a beautiful and wonderful summer. I know I will because of your reminder.
And all God’s children said. Amen.
With all my scars (inside and out) God sees ME and thinks I am perfect, which in His eyes, I am! What a blessing to be so beloved.
God sees the best in all of us. He has made each of us special. Each day we should celebrate his creation by living a life that celebrates him and his wonderful saving grace. It is not what is on the outside but what is on the inside that makes us beautiful.
When I think of “fearfully and wonderfully made”, I remind myself it is an ongoing way that the Lord sees me. So as I grow older, grey hairs and all, I am still fearfully and wonderfully made!
I was just in Southern California visiting my 98 year old mom. I am always aware of the flowers because I live in Minnesota where they don’t bloom all year. I am always amazed at the specialness of them and how my God created such beauty in each one. I think if God cared that much about flowers how much more He cares about me. I keep learning how He is continuing to form me into His image. I am fearfully and wonderfully made! I want to continue to grow in His grace and mercy.
There is the greatest security in claiming the truth that I am fearfully and wonderfully made! It’s not a fear as the world defines – no! It is a holy, righteous “fear” that God Almighty displays throughout His creation! This is a “wonder” that is “full” of beauty and creativity – meaning, I am a one-of-a-kind beautiful creation, marked by my Creator for life! Hallelujah!
My word for 2019 is actually a phrase: Imago Dei. When I first chose it, my plan was to be more aware of God’s image reflected in everyone else I meet, as well as in myself. But, while this is a worthwhile practice, He has revealed an even more important truth to me: Being created in His image was not, as I always assumed, a one-shot deal, completed when He knit me together in my mother’s womb. Rather, I’m growing into His image daily, and every single thing that happens to me – good, bad, or in-between – has the potential to mold me a little more, if only I’ll let Him do the necessary work in me. In short, it’s sanctification, this being created in His image. Maybe that should have been my 2019 word, instead!
Fearful and wonderfully made…by God. God made me to be unique, and like no other. I love the me He has made and am happy to shine His light. I am blessed, I am loved and I am Fearful and Wonderfully made God!
Liz, I had a sticker from one of your events that was supposed to go on a mirror, I believe and it said “Ta-Da”! So we could really appreciate God’s workmanship. I chuckle when I think about it. My sister who is now in heaven was always doubtful about saying Ta-Da, but I know she is saying it now! Thank you for the encouragement.
What is it to be fearfully and wonderfully made…. well, if you would have asked me that 2 years ago, I probably would have hidden under a rock and proclaimed how useless and “non-wonderful” I was. Dramatic despair, right? But you see, this is the generational curse and bondage I was in. I struggled deeply with depression and anxiety as well as my weight. *gasp* the W word! My weight defined me and anxiety and depression were my friends. One summer I started a weight loss journey, the usual around my house, but what I didn’t know at the time if that I would complete the journey. I lost 100 pounds and although that felt great, my goodness so much more was lost than that weight. With each pound that came off, bondage fell with it. It was like Jesus was replacing each ounce with worth, love, and happiness. But not happiness from being “slim.” But the kind of happiness that’s of a deep JOY.
So, after my long winded small story about where I’ve been; let me tell you where I am now. To be fearfully and wonderfully made to me is to be deeply loved and hugged by God. To be beautiful in all that I am… saggy skin, stretch marks, adult acne😳. It is to be cherished and sweetly woo’d by Jesus. It is to be divinely chosen by a kinsman redeemer who would die on the cross, even if you were the ONLY person on earth.
I haven’t met my “ultimate weight loss goal”. But I sure did gain more than I lost. But isn’t that the character of our Precious Father? Always replacing 10 fold what is lost?
If you’ve made it with me this far, may the Lord bless you❤️😂 Thank you Ms. Higgs for a beautiful and relatable post that got me thinking on this Louisiana rainy day while my kids run amuck.😆
Fearfully and wonderfully made means trusting in God’s PERFECT design for me. It also means trusting that He is in full and complete control when it comes to the “fearfully and wonderfully” made grandchildren He has given me. I have one grandson who was born with brittle bone disease and I was very sad about this when he was born. While it is hard for Grammie to see him go through all the breaks, braces, casts and bone treatments, I have also seen God’s mighty hand at work in speeding up the healing process from each break, building bone density very quickly, putting doctor’s in my grandson’s path who are experts in this disease, seeing my daughter and son-in-law grow extremely in their relationships with Christ through this. While it wouldn’t have been my plan; it has been a perfect “God plan”! I am forever grateful for God’s faithfulness. Thank you for all you do to lead us into God’s presence Liz. It is appreciated.
A few years ago I was invited to watch as a grand-niece had a 3-D ultra sound on her soon to be born baby. What an amazing experience. My first thought was “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” God does amazing work! Today that baby is a beautiful, active three year old boy.
Thank you for selecting a verse that has us look at ourselves in a new light. As women we sometimes need to be reminded of our beauty as God sees us and know that we are exactly as He planned!
As age 70 approaches in a few weeks, sometimes that is hard to grasp as I look in the mirror and see all the changes I didn’t ask for! But, at the same time, the concept that I am fearfully and wonderfully made brings tears to my eyes and down my cheeks as I realize how much He loves and treasures me…and…I am beautiful! That puts a grin on my face!
It’s hard for me to memorize scripture word for word, but Psalm 139 is one of my favorites. “fearfully and wonderfully made”, how sweet the sounds of those words! I reflect on them often and praise God for creating me and loving me for the woman I am in his creation. I identify with Martha (sister of Mary, served Jesus), and even though she gets a bad rap from many people, she was a child of God created for and living out her life as God intended. So am I!
Dear One…lovely one, beautiful one,
YOU bless my soul as you share the beauty and fragrance of white flowers…and compare our beauty in God’s redemptive eyes, as far surpassing them. Our beauty is ‘white washed’ in His blood and the ‘folige’ is the world we accent with His beauty flowing through us!!
We stand in front of the mirror…amazed…at eyes that work, scent, taste, words that flow from hearts broken and redeemed for His service…played out with feet and hands that serve. Amen and Amen
To be “fearfully and wonderfully made” means that God made each of us unique, special and wonderful.
This is no one exactly like us in the world, and God does not make mistakes .
We are precious in His sight and to His Great delight!
And by the power of His might!
Praise God for this truth from Scripture. (Psalm 139)
To be fearfully and wonderfully made means that I can be secure in who I am in Christ! I don’t need to spend time worrying about what others think aBout me:) cause I know and trust what my creator thinks of me.
At an Extraordinary Women Conference a few years ago, you talked about “ta” meaning thank you and “da” meaning father overseas. So on a bad day, I look at myself and say, “TA-DA” to help me remember I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Sometimes I laugh but it helps me to face the world none the less.
Being “fearfully and wonderfully made” taken from Psalm 139 means that each of us is unique, special and wonderful.
No two of us are alike.
So, I am precious in His sight.
By the power of His glorious might.
And to His great delight.
Praise God for this truth.
It means that I do not have to believe the lies I was told growing up and instead know that my Father in Heaven loves me just as I am.
I do not believe in coincidence only God orchestrated! My preacher preached a sermon titled Consider the Blessings. In this message he gave the same scripture in Psalm 139:14. I have mostly pictured a baby in the womb or a new born baby when I read that scripture…until today. Thank you for being obedient and writing this.
I am undergoing chemotherapy…just finished #13 of 16. I have no eyelashes, eyebrows, or hair. I had a mastectomy. Also I have some marks that the chemo burns and rashes have left on my body. When I strip myself of the wig, the makeup and the clothes and I look into the mirror and fearfully and wonderfully made aren’t what comes to my mind.
Thank you for your ministry. Thank you for reminding me that despite what I may look like physically at this time I am fearfully and wonderfully made……like Queen Ester for such a time as this. Praying that God will us me to help others see themselves in His light.
Loved your thoughts Liz which are so encouraging! Caused me to be thankful for the bags under my eyes knowing God gave them to me. Just yesterday as I was looking in the mirror while at the hairdresser noticing them and thinking I sure wish I didn’t have those and after complementing my hairdresser on the cut told her now if you can just doing something about those bags! I’ve always tried to embrace my aging and praise God for life changes but I must admit the older I get the harder it gets to embrace them at age 65. Thus, thank you for the beautiful newsletter, photos and new perspective on the color white. Thank you for always being so uplifting in this day and age of trying to look perfect.
I struggle sometimes as I get older, I am 70 now, with my saggy skin and my age spots. Reading these verses today made me feel at peace within my skin. I AM God’s child, he made me who I am and I rejoice in His creation. I feel so much better today as I look in the mirror.
Thanks Liz for reminding me of this fact.
Love you and love your blog.
Dorothy Blades
I immediately thought of my Dad when I saw the photos of the beautiful flowers. My Dad was a landscaper who earned our family’s income as a landscaper, mowing lawns, planting flowers and weeding flower beds.
My Dad emigrated from the Netherlands to America in 1948. He kept his heavy Dutch accent but that did not stop him from preaching as a volunteer at his local rescue mission.
Dad loved his/our Lord and the flowers God created. When helping to plant flowers at our home Dad would always say “every flower has a face. Make sure you look for the flower’s face.”
Dad is in heaven. My husband often says I wonder which flower bed or lawn your Dad is taking care of today.
Dad was a humble man who wanted all glory to be given to God.
Ironically I did not inherit Dad’s green thumb BUT I have the inheritance of Dad’s love for our Lord and Savior.
Blessings,
Annetta
I am not an accident- I am God’s masterpiece. When He sees me, He sees Jesus. I am a princess who is the daughter of the King. My body grows and does the good works that He prepared in advance for me to do. Its cells rejuvenate when I get injured. My eyes allow me to see His glorious creation. My nose can smell the fragrance of His lovely flowers. One day I will see Him and rejoice!
As another Birthday passes me by this coming Saturday, it makes me stop and think about just how Awesome God is and how He never makes mistakes. Even when things aren’t going my way(my job may be going away) I still want to praise Him for everything He has done for me and what He is going to do. My future my be uncertain, but my God never is!
Fearfully and wonderfully made…God does not make junk! We are His perfect creation and He created us in His love and for His glory. We need to remember that every day.
What a blessing to see ourselves the way our Heavenly Father sees us! When I picture the love in His eyes, it helps me to stop comparing myself to someone else and to be at peace in His love. Thank you for using your gift of words to remind each of us that we are beautiful in His sight.
I love this verse. It gives so a beautiful outlook on life and the way God sees us and the way we should see ourselves and others! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Liz for reminding me that I AM fearfully and wonderfully made since I was born over 65 years ago. God kept me safe through being molested as a 3-year-old for how many years; through marriage with a man who was a Christian in name only but not by actions; through him divorcing me because “I had a problem” and nothing was wrong with him and two years ago a sister moving in with my Dad after Mom died and then changing the will leaving me with nothing and not allowing me to see Dad for months before he died. God is my Father and Jesus is my brother so I am a Princess! Ta Da! Thanks for encouraging me and so many others 💖 !
Psalm 139 is my go to when I get down on myself. It has gotten me through some days when I just didn’t feel like I mattered, amounted to anything or was even worth anything. I read it as many times a day as I needed to for many, many months.
It pops up in my devotions periodically and usually on a day when I really need it! Thanks Liz for sharing this today. I pray it can help someone else and much as it helps me
Fearfully creates anxiety unless we know the One who formed us from dust
The intricacies are truly wonderful when we consider all that makes up this living, breathing organism
Thank you, Liz, for your thoughts on this somewhat controversial subject. I have a neuromuscular syndrome at one end of the muscular dystrophy spectrum. I didn’t know it until about 12 years ago, though I have been affected by it all my life of course. Before I knew what was “wrong” with me, I thought I was just stupid. Sometimes I have felt petulant and pouty because I’m awkward at best. I have had a lifelong issue with disliking the way I was made, inside and out, comparing myself to others instead of enjoying what I can do. Lately I have realized how stupid that is, and I have been thanking God that I can still walk – many with my syndrome cannot – and use my hands. I have been deliberate about looking for things to celebrate and enjoy rather than feeling sorry for myself for not being graceful and athletic (for instance). There are confusing opinions on this subject and I wish you would talk about them. Some people think that handicaps are evidence of sin and not evidence of unique design chosen for someone. You seem to be one (among others) who believe that God would have deliberately chosen to put us together the way He did, handicaps and all (Psalm 139 seems to support this). What do you think of the first idea, i.e. that birth defects/handicaps and anomalies are just sin, plain and simple, and we have to put up with it until we get to heaven? Why do we feel that we have to be perfect (especially when it comes to the way we look) in spite of the set of challenges we were born with? Why do we feel like we are “wrong” and God was kinda mean or careless to some of us in the way we were made? I know that’s a lie (that God is mean or careless), but the randomness of genetics seems to contradict the “fearfully and wonderfully made” idea. Sorry, I guess I over did this. Its just been a tough area for me.
Oh, Susan, your post cries out to me for a reply, especially after my response below celebrates our wondrous creation on a molecular level. My take is that we live in a fallen world, and that fallen state has affected everything. Some ways we are aware of, like genetic problems (and the challenges of aging, which many responses here deal with) and some ways we are probably clueless about. But we can get hope from the future. We know we are moving towards a day that will be “the end of all things broken, the fulfillment of all things made new.” A recent online devotion (I like to credit my sources: The Seedbed Daily Text for July 1) gave me a fresh perspective on this question of why bad things happen to good people. “The Bible doesn’t answer that question because the Bible doesn’t ask it, nor did early Christians. They weren’t philosophizing about sin, death and evil–they were fighting it with everything they had.” My prayer for you, Susan, is that Jesus, through his Holy Spirit, will pour out in your life an amazing awareness of his love, and that the power of that love will give you peace about yourself– fearfully and wonderfully made in his image, so that you will be like Joseph in Genesis 50, “(Evil) intended to harm me, but God intended it for good,” because “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
I am fearfully and wonderfully made even though sometimes I don’t feel it, look it or accept it. But God in all His glory loves me because He created me and I’m so thankful to Him.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made means God didn’t make any mistakes, and I need to give myself an extra measure of Grace on those days when I don’t feel worthy or convinced. We are individuals just like those white flowers that have a tiny touch of another color-no two are alike. Thanks for words that challenge and encourage.
Liz, I was watering the Hollyhocks and started noticing the petals details the they are a light pink peachy with lines of white and like paperthin and thought Wow! God is so wonderful and so when you said about even the white flowers have hues of blues and pinks made me think of this morning and how We are all so wonderfully made! I like the dimples I see on people and me and think now how did he do that? God bless you always. I so enjoy your Bible studies and the encouragement
We are each made in God’s image and are unique. Thus we can thank God that we are exactly what He wants us to be.
The Lord made us with a seriousness. He made us precisely the way he wanted us. With all our imperfections and flaws, he still thinks we are beautiful! We are exactly the way he wanted us: made to give him glory. That’s the wonderful part.
Thanks, so much, Liz. I needed this! This is the second time today the Lord has brought me to Psalm 139, and that makes this a very good day.
Hi Liz.. I was born with a syndrome which makes me unique in many physical features. Approaching age 60, I can finally say I am fearfully and wonderfully made. As a child, and young person however, it was difficult to love God’s design. God has poured out his truth over me, and likewise I wish to impart the same with my kids and grandkids and others with unique characteristics. Learning to embrace God’s special design, and bring grateful for who he has made us to be, His treasured possession!💕
We are all precious to God and we bring glory to Him when we reflect who He is. He made each person exactly who He intended them to be. Let’s rejoice!
Our God created us in his image and I am so thankful for that! These verses are beautiful and remind me that each of us are SO precious in His sight. Thank you so much for sharing the verses and pretty flowers with us. It’s like a breath of fresh air getting your email and allowing me to renew my heart and mind on God’s bountiful blessings.
Fearfully and wonderfully made is a challenging thought with the ‘world’ yammering in our ears daily! I must turn to God’s word over and over and over and over again to drown out anything but Him! I ask daily to hear His voice above all others…diligence is key!!!
Thank you again Liz for your uplifting words of encouragement.
Oh Liz, bless you for this message I so needed to hear today reminding me how blessed and loved by our Heavenly Father we are. My (ahem) 55th year being on this earth is coming up on July 16th and I’ve been having a hard time looking in the mirror and liking what I see back, let alone praising God for my image. Your gentle reminder to give praise rather than criticize is greatly appreciated. May God continue to work through you and bless you. Love Pamela
My thoughts turn to being fearfully and wonderfully “re-made” in Christ- Kintsugi comes to mind – Japanese art of repairing broken pottery – allowing His truth to sparkle & shine through the broken pieces.
Since He knew me before I was born, put all the pieces together, wonderful pieces. When I fell apart He was the only one who could put the pieces back together creator God!!!
God breathed life into man and gave us a heart to use for his glory!!
Every day I wake up is a gift from God. And I know He loves me regardless what I look like…in His eyes I’m beautiful. I pray my life reflects that.
My thoughts on fearfully and wonderfully made” I believe with all of my heart that God does not make mistakes! So saying that when I see the fat rolls or the extra wrinkles and a missing tooth, God sees beauty! So saying that, I am beautiful! He created me! I am beautiful no matter what stage of life I am in. He loves me just the way I am and that is good enough for me! I have the confidence because of who I am to Him! To step out and do is because of Him who created me! So YES! I can say with 100 % accuracy I am fearfully and wonderfully made beautiful! Thank you so much Liz for reminding us of this! For having us stop in our busy lives to reflect on His word! God Bless You!
I loved this and the photos as well. Even though I counsel with women who are considering abortions, and I share Psalm 139 with them, it is often hard for me to remember that these words are from God for me as well. As a survivor of childhood abuse I sometimes find myself buying into the lies of shame and guilt. But, Praise God, because it seems as though every time I am hovering on the edge of belief in lies, He sends a gift in some form to remind me that He is with me and for me and loves me in a radically amazing and unbelievable way. Your message was one of those precious God Gifts that arrived right on time!!! Thank You!
When I first met my husband, he had a printout his Mother gave him. It read, “I know I’m a somebody, cause God doesn’t make no junk!” That’s just how it is, isn’t it. Great article. Hugs
Not 5 minutes before I read this, I was thinking about how much weight I’ve gained and how disappointed I am in myself. I love what you said about being more beautiful than any flower and that I was “made to honor the One who created me”.
This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible, yet, even though I can quote it and have even given a short devotional on it, I don’t always believe it about myself. Seeing it broken down and explained this way helps me understand just a little bit better how God sees me as beautiful because He looks at my heart not my appearance. Thanks again for your wonderful words.
I had my second cataract surgery this morning. Talk about enjoying the beauty of “white and bright!”. I had forgotten how beautiful white really is. I am ever so thankful that God has given me the opportunity once again to see the beauty of the world in its true colors ! Am also thankful to God, through others like you, who have shown me how to appreciate ME, thinning hair, bulges where there weren’t any 25 yrs. ago, etc. I have learned God loves me just the way I am, yesterday, today, and tomorrow!
I like your Bible Studies that you send my way email wise like to my email inbox the title’s of the Bible Study that you write about they’re good Bible Study titles & I just read the Fearfully & Wonderfully Made that ya sent my way to my email inbox.
Thank you yet once again for your words of encouragement and love. Struggling with the aging process is real, frustrating and can be discouraging. Feeling like you are losing worth as an individual and a woman is one of the ways the devil tries to tear us down and take us away from Gods word and love as we get older. Thank you Liz for the reminder that God made us and has not forgotten us and to Him we are still extremely valuable.
These words are exactly what I needed to read today! I’ve been struggling and going back to bad vices since the death of my best friend. I have a post it note on my bathroom mirror that says “God Loves Me”. You reminded me he does and I can get through this depression and loss I feel. Bless you!
How timely this message is! I have just turned 50 and am working on having a healthier body and healthier meals. Trying to focus on healthier not thinner. Fearfully and wonderfully made–right now, this minute. Thank you. Thank you, Lord, for your word this minute. Thank you, Liz, for sharing the message.
Today I read these verses in Psalm 139 to twenty children at VBS. Most of these children lost their homes in the Camp Fire that destroyed our town of Paradise CA in November. To share with them that the Lord planned all their days even the hard ones and that He thinks about them so much we can’t even begin to count how much spoke volumes to their hearts. Being uniquely and wonderfully made encouraged them in ways I never imagined these verses could. God is healing our town daily and using His love to do so.
WONDERFUL–that is who I am because of what Jesus has already done. WONDERFUL–just like God intended. WONDERFUL–because I celebrate God’s life in me.
Laurie Diggins
“Fearfully and wonderfully made” always takes me back years to my semester of biochemistry. We are wonderously designed down to the molecular, even atomic and elemental level. Our bodies operate each moment with countless, complex , intricate processes. (This oxygen moves here and then than makes that . . .) No, I remember very little of the specific details, but I do retain my sense of wonder. (And scientists actually do study and understand and discover all this stuff!) Praises be to God, our Creator and Sustainer, who created us in his image and gave us his breath of life! We are fearfully and wonderfully made!
Just knowing that we are made in his image. That is wonderful!!!
Fear…fully. Yes I fear God, but not in a frightful way. I respect, honor, give Him glory but most of all love Him.
To be wonderfully made is also amazing. Because by His workmanship we are made in His image.
So…we are doubly blessed and it’s all about Him!
(By the way…love what you do. Have a blessed day)
Carol Lyon
A spinal cord injury six years ago with subsequent incomplete paraplegia has taught me more about wholeness and being fearfully and wonderfully made than all the combined experiences in my prior able-bodied self.
Today each step raises my awareness of the myriad of processes and functionalities that enable that step– and prevent the misstep that might send me sprawling!
Thank You, God… and thanks Liz for this opportunity to reflect upon and glorify God’s creative and wonderful grace.
I have a birthmark that is predominantly on the left side of my body… I have always been self-conscious about it. When I was a baby, people thought I had been burned. As I’ve gotten older, it has faded, BUT I still feel “less than” due to it and prayed each time I was pregnant that my baby would not have one. Thankfully, none of them did! Reading this today caused me to REALLY think about the fact that God created the birthmark… it was intentional and beautiful to Him.
wow! thank you, Liz, for this beautiful post… for a few brief moments I was able to get a glimpse of me as fearfully and wonderfully made, through your God-given words. a few moments is all I needed to refresh my thinking of myself AND others. I love white flowers… symbol of purity and strength like the white clouds… that good feeling you get when you wear a new white shirt or dress. I’m sure that’s how God sees us, pure and strong. And He gets that same feeling about us even when we’re not wearing white – lol! thank you for that reflection. Love how God uses you to speak to me. Wish I could get an inspiring email from you every day!
To me it means that each of us is one of a kind. We were made with love.
I have struggled with depression my whole life and have questioned being fearfully and wonderfully made. That verse has perplexed me, but I know that I am child of God and will someday have my questions answered!
When the Pharisees asked Jesus if they should pay tax to Caesar, Jesus had them look at a coin: “Whose image is this?” (Matt. 22:20, NIV). Dutifully they answered that Caesar’s image was imprinted on the denarius. So, yes, he gets the imperial tax. “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (v. 21). We generally stop at the first half of that verse for Caesar’s image is on the coin.
His answer was twofold. So what bears the image of God? What belongs to God? It’s who. We go back to the creation story. Of all the creatures God made, only the humans did God create in His image: “In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gen. 2:27).
This is basic to the pro-life message. Because we are created in God’s image, we do not abort unborn humans. God spoke through Isaiah about “children, the work of my hands” (Isa. 29:23). From the moment of conception, we are all stamped with the image of God. Life matters. We are precious in God’s sight, for He created us and we belong to Him. We defend the rights of the unborn, because we speak the truth of ownership, the right to live in His world.
The message of bearing the image of God goes further; because we belong to God, we make ourselves available to Him, His plans and purposes. In a way, we accept that image upon ourselves, into our daily living, honoring God and proclaiming His Word to others. We cannot say to the One who formed us, “You did not make me” (Isa. 29:16). God did. Therefore, we represent Him in all we say and do. That’s image-bearing.
Fearfully means God made me to stand tall as His creation..strong in His love and wonderfully made as I am one of a kind because all His creations are unique. Never think that He made a mistake with you as His beloved.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God the Father is my designer. I am created to bring him glory and joy.
What does it mean to me to be Fearfully & Wonderfully made? As I researched these 2 words, Fearfully & Wonderfully, I was amazed at what I found & read. I realized that God took great measures to create me, in every area of my body. It is remarkable for sure.
Thanks, I really needed to hear this today. I am struggling with type 2 diabetes, and in the middle of it, I am so thankful for the journey. God did not make a mistake when he gave me this disease. It makes me more aware of what I put in my body, and I treat myself better. It also gives me patience for those who struggle with any kind of chronic condition. Bless you Liz!
Being always critical of myself, I must remember that God doesn’t make junk! I then remind myself that to him I am exactly what he intended me to be – with my life, my helpfulness to others, my listening to those who need my empathy and compassion. Thank you, Jesus, for all that I am. Thank you for loving me.
Dear Sister Liz, Your post each month seems to hit me on the head and in my heart. Enjoyed Wonderful Made, saw myself complaining about Me, instead of praising God for what He has blessed me with. I have eyes to see, ears to hear, mouth to tell others about our wonderful Savior and what He does for me each and every day. Keep up the blessed work you are doing. Love you , In Him. Romie
Since God is the master creator of life, wonders, colors, love and relationship, who am I to doubt His creation of me? Of course, I am made in His image because He told us so! How can that be wrong or unacceptable? I know He loved my image enough to give His life for me! So even though my mirror might show what I consider imperfect, I know by faith and His promises that He made me wonderfully perfect! And that’s the truth!
When I look in the mirror, I see the scars on my chest. I’m reminded of what God has brought me through. That He was with me every step of the way. I m reminded that Jesus still had his scars on his hands, his feet and his side. Not because God couldn’t get rid of them, but for Thomas and for me. So that we would know who He is, and what He had/has done.
White is also a sign of purity. For those who have accepted the Lord as Savior are being made pure, he not only gave us life but made us in his own image. I can’t praise him enough for giving me birth, then cleansing me continually from my sin. I look in the mirror and say TaDa. Love your teachings Sister Liz.
This very morning, I am heading to the bathroom, my 63 year self, and thank the Father for His wonderful, fearfully made gift of giving me…life, His Spirit in me!
I am beautiful in His sight. And that’s enough!
It’s time to be rejoicing!
P.S. Liz thank you for being such a joy!
Psalm 139 is my favorite chapter! Thank you for bringing this to our attention today. I recently lost a significant amount of weight but still have more to lose and seem to be at a stand still. BUT, I am Fearfully & Wonderfully Made…..and you are too!
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am beautiful in God’s sight. I have osteoarthritis and nerve pain. In Dec. My 98 year old Mom and her Dr. decided it was time for her to leave our family home of 63 years. My sister and I are her POA. I live in town where Mom is, my sister does not. I worked along with a friend of mine for several days to clean everything out so we could sell it. Every night I cried while looking in the mirror. I’m over weight, with health issues,but one night I smiled at my reflection and thanked God for allowing me to be here, in my hometown for the last 11 years and for letting that wonderful lady I call Mom, be “my” Mom. She told me this last week to stop trying to find things wrong with myself. God doesn’t do ugly. God fills you with grace no matter. She Hope’s I find happiness before she is gone. I hope so too. Cuz I want to look in the mirror with her and tell myself I am fearfully and wonderfully made by Gods hands and my Mom and Dads romantic loving relationship they had through the 56 years they were married. Thanks be to God for giving me these past 11 years to find friendship with my Mom as well as love for her in a whole different way. She is doing well at our new Senior Community. We talk several times a day and at least 3-5 days a week I drive the 5 minute trip to help with her bills,if she needs it and just be with her. I won the jackpot for being able to come home to help her. God bless you Liz. I have seen you at Women of Faith in Minneapolis, MN. a few times. I love you Liz.
By grace. Through faith, I n Christ, Rita Grim
What an amazing post Liz 💕 I read & text these verses to my daughters frequently. I can always see how absolutely perfect God has made them but struggle to see this in myself. Thank you for this reminder of the truth, this is definitely something I need to work on!!!!
I just celebrated a birthday this month, entering my seventh decade. It was a challenging transition and not the usual celebration. Looking into my aging face, acknowledging I move slower and ache more, I am still thankful for this glorious body, made in God’s likeness, given as a trust for the number of years He determines. Remembering that He knew me before anyone else, that He loved me and designed a plan for me, is indeed wonderful.
Dear Liz, we women are so guilty of only seeing our flaws,we find it so difficult to see ourselves as our creator sees us, MAGNIFICENT. Thank you and God bless you Liz
How easy it is to forget that He created us in an image that pleases Him and what we perceive as imperfections are there for His Glory. Spending a lifetime with a physical disability and excess weight from it make it all to easy to believe the world’s lies that I was made wrong. No sister, it is for His glory! It is a unique gift to me to be able to glorify Him in his strength and not my own.
It means we are “perfect” no matter what we make think! Because He does everything perfectly!
Thanks for the awesome photos of more beautiful flowers. The more I look at all the beautiful flowers He has made, and ALL of nature, I am more in awe of Him!
Thanks for this Liz!
YOU are wonderful! 😉
I give thanks every day for this glorious day and for all the blessings bestowed upon me each and every day. I pray that the Lord continues to bless me and those I care about with good health, happiness and peace in our hearts and minds.
Perfect in His eyes!
Truly grateful for his creation of me but fear I am not always wonderfully deserving !
To be fearfully and wonderfully made means God formed me in my sweet mother’s womb and knew me by name before the foundation of the world. He loves me more than anyone else does and will never fail me. Though I fail him everyday, His mercies are new every morning. I’m thankful he created my children and grandkids the same way!!
Every time I read this verse it gives me such a feeling of contentment. Most of my life has been spent feeling inferior and “not good enough”. When I think of God’s perfect love, I realize that seeking the acceptance of others takes my attention away from His perfect love. Thank you for this.
No more being ashamed of my lumps and bumps or none at all.
God said so. So there.
Fearfully and wonderfully made… God created us as only He could; He could do no more, He could do no less! Perfect in His eyes!
Thank you for these womderful words. The words “I used to be” do pop into my head when I think about myself. Need to remember I am who I am now and I am still fearfully and wonderfully made.