Read: Psalm 139:1-18
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. (v. 13)
As a new mom, can anyone know my daughter better than me? I’ve seen every tiny change in the colors of her eyes. I’ve heard every coo and cry and can usually guess what they mean. I know what she likes (strawberries) and what she hates (tofu) to eat. I’ve been with her every hour since the day she was born. Still, there is someone who knows her better than I do. And he has been with her even longer than I have.
The psalmist tells us that God saw our “unformed substance” (v. 16) and knitted us together in our mother’s womb—not just our physical self, but our full personhood. Every fiber of our body, every future word from our lips was known by him before we were even born. He doesn’t determine our path, but he knows it. Our eternal God sees the lives of his children all at once. He sees the full life of the oak tree before forming the acorn.
Like the psalmist, maybe you want to run and hide. But of course, it’s no good. God doesn’t just know us; he’s also with us wherever we go. Even in our darkest places, he brings light. And this is the great comfort of being his child. We were preciously formed by him. There’s nothing about us that he doesn’t already know. There’s nowhere we can go to be separated from his abiding love and grace. —Elise Johnson
As you pray, ask God to help you understand how deeply he knows you.
About the Author
Elise Johnson is a creative writer and professional communications consultant living in Toronto, Canada with her husband Andrew, an Anglican priest, and her daughter Beatrice. Her writing explores life as a new mom, being a minister’s wife, and more.
