You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
Psalm 139:13-14 NLT
Sometimes it can be tempting to look at ourselves and be critical of what God has made. (Amen? I know it’s not just me.) Really, God, with the ADHD? And why would you make me with limited vision? What exactly were you thinking with these hips? And the anxiety? Really, God?
The psalmist is convinced that God is the One who made us, and I’m going to believe that an intentional God had a purpose when He made me. And when He made you.
I don’t pretend to understand God’s intentions, but if I use my prayerful imagination, I can perhaps begin to explore what God might possibly have had in mind. For example, I’ve heard that folks who aren’t neurotypical, or have other types of physical or emotional challenges, can have a tender heart for those who face their own challenges. I’m not going to pretend to know why some folks struggle with anxiety or depression, but I do know that God is very present to those who know they need Him.
Your one-of-a-kind design by God likely includes some incredible gifts and passions, and it also may include some challenges. And I’m confident that God can use those challenges for your good and for the good of others. Ask God to show you how.
Consider the ways in which you have been critical of how God made you. Then, one by one, offer those to God and ask God how He sees each one.
God, I believe that You are the One who made me, on purpose. Give me Your vision for the parts of myself I don’t yet love, and show me what You have in mind for me. Amen.
Dive into a 100-day devotional by Chrystal Evans Hurst, 100 Days to Discovering the Gift of You, about being who God made you to be in the midst of life’s challenges. When our plans don’t succeed, when turmoil arises, or when we have to take unexpected detours in life, it can be difficult to trust what God is doing and our place in it. But understanding the depth of God’s love and the truth of His Word can help us retrench, rebuild, and move forward. Over the course of 100 days, Chrystal will steward readers through this process and help them discover their unique gifts, emerge more confident in God, and become more excited about the future He has in store. Here’s a peek inside 100 Days to Discovering the Gift of You at a word from Chrystal:
“Have you discovered the gift of you?
If you’re like many women I know, it’s possible that you aren’t yet entirely convinced that you are a one-of-a-kind wonder — a gift from God to the world.
And I get it. Maybe the last few decades just didn’t unfold the way you once imagined. Or perhaps there was an unexpected rupture — a death, a medical challenge, a divorce — that you never expected. Or there may have been other obstacles that kept you from living the dreams you had for your life. I understand.
And I also believe that you can embrace the gift of who you are.
I know that you’ve been doing your best. I know that you wake up and make the most of each day that you’re given. And I also know that who you are is worth naming and owning and celebrating. And I believe that embracing the gift of who you are is possible. I believe that, wherever you are today, you can discover the gift of you.”
What a great pep talk! This is exactly what you’ll find in Chrystal’s new book, 100 Days to Discovering the Gift of You.
Order your copy today. . . And, enter to WIN one of five copies that we’re giving away*! Leave a comment on this article and be entered to win.
Then be SURE to tune in to the (in)courage podcast this weekend for a conversation with Becky Keife and Chrystal. Listen on your favorite podcast app!
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