Skillfully Wrought

Do you ever get mad at yourself? I too often do. Sadly, many times it’s on frivolous situations that really won’t affect much of my day and definitely not much of my life. Sometimes the situations do have more long-term implications, but getting angry at ourselves never really helps.

One of the biggest reasons I get angry at myself or at my situation, is that I don’t trust God enough. Perhaps the same is true for you? But God is big enough to work through any of our mistakes. As a matter fact, He knows we’re going to make mistakes, but His love for us is not based on those mistakes.

Psalm 139 and God’s Care for You

God knew what He was doing when He made you and me, and a with deep, infinite love He knows everything about us. Psalm 139 describes this knowledge and love. Verses 3-6 tell us, “Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high; I cannot attain to it. (NASB)”

Not only does He know everything about us, He made us. Verse 13 and 14 state, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.”

God’ word is truth that we can rely on when self-doubt fills our head.

A Reveling Hike

I enjoy taking hikes. God speaks to me through the things He has created. On one such hike in Glacier National Park, God used creation to show me how much he loves me and cares for me.

The hike started off quite nicely. Most of the trail followed along a small, but steep, rushing stream. It was gorgeous and peaceful, but when we arrived at our destination, a majestic mountain lake, I realized I forgot an important piece of photography equipment. Without it I could not get the photographs of the lake I wanted. Frustration filled my heart and I began to get very upset with myself. I was also angry with God for making me so forgetful and non-detailed (I mess up a lot of things this way).

The Wonder of God’s Creation and the Wonder of You

I sat down on a lakeside log and stewed in my anger. But even in my anger I noticed the beauty of my location. I removed my journal from my backpack and began to write, “You made this place so beautiful. The land is so sculptured. The organisms have such balance. It’s amazing how it all works. Then how I am made…?”

My thoughts drifted to Psalm 139, “You must have known what you were doing when you made me, because you knew what you were doing when you made this place…This park speaks to me. It’s part of your revelation about yourself. You sculptured it with care and take care of its inhabitants. It’s amazing how it works… so you must have also made me with the same attention and take care of me.”

God’s creative works speaks to us about Him. Creation’s magnificent details tell us about a God who took great care in what He made. Not only did He make it, He now lovingly sustains it. If God loving created and sustains the natural world, then with how much more love and care did He make you? The God that crafted the beauty of nature also crafted you.