King David writes in Psalm 139:13-16: “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. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
I discovered those words from God as a young 18-year-old new believer in Jesus Christ. They were words that spoke to my heart. God didn’t mess up when he made me. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Years later David’s words came back to me.
My first grandson was born on June 9, 2008. He was 41 weeks. Not one thing wrong with him. He died 16 hours before he was born. Was he fearfully and wonderfully made? God said every day that was formed for him was written in God’s book before one of them came to be. Through that pain and loss we saw God is good. God doesn’t make mistakes. My grandson was a wonderful work of God and he was fearfully and wonderfully made. All of his days were written in God’s book before there were none of them.
My second grandchild was born Aug. 22, 2009, 13 months later to the same parents. This granddaughter was born at 33 weeks. She was born with many difficulties. They said she would die when she was born. They said she had no stomach and no kidneys. She had to have surgery a week after birth. The doctors said she would bleed out on the table and most likely be blind.
She lived. She’s fearfully and wonderfully made. All the days were formed for her were written in God’s book before one of them came to be. Five years later she developed cancer. The cancer was removed. She’s now cancer free. She’s fearfully and wonderfully made. God is good. God is in control. God cares.
My third grandchild came at the right time. No problems. He was fearfully and wonderfully made. God is good.
My fourth grandchild was born eight weeks early. He didn’t come home from the hospital for a month and a half. His mom and dad spent days and weeks with him. Every day in his mother’s womb God formed him. Every day outside of his mother’s womb in that incubator, God formed him. He’s fearfully and wonderfully made. Today he’s a joyful, jumping, running 2-and-a-half year old. God is good. God is in control. God cares.
My fifth grandchild was born a number of weeks early. He was born at 29 weeks. Is God’s timing right this time? What is God doing? This little boy was much smaller. His delivery brought much more trauma to my daughter. Did God forget somehow to knit him together in his mother’s womb?
It’s been seven weeks now and he continues to live in that box. He continues to grow. God continues to be in control. God is still good. God still cares.
No matter what happens in your life, may you know God is good. God is in control.
If you’re one of his, he causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him. Do you love him? Do you love him in the storms of life?
Regardless of how dark the storms of life get for you, may you know and experience the goodness of God.
Ben Fleming is the pastor of Silver Hills Community Church.
