“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—that’s what I had in mind for you.” So said God to a young prophet named Jeremiah once (Jeremiah 1:5 MSG). While these words were spoken in a particular context to a particular person, there are powerful principles we can draw out for a deeper understanding of God and His purposes.
God is God, and I am not. I’m limited by time and space, a minuscule amount of knowledge of the universe, and a tendency to do the wrong thing, none of which characterizes God. Sometimes I need a reminder that I’m not Him. And the bigger He is to me, the better equipped I am to handle life.
God is also far more than an impersonal, almighty force. He’s personally involved in the affairs of mankind and the creation of each and every person on earth. He knits us and forms us in the womb with tremendous care. We are unique individuals, hand-crafted with purpose in every detail. And even our flaws are characteristics God can use in surprising ways.
And further, God knows our lives. He knows our thoughts, our intentions and motives, and our futures. He’s intimately aware of our personalities whether we are aware of His or not. Long before we meet Him, He’s preparing to cultivate in us a new, clean heart. And if we will yield to Him, He can use us to influence our worlds in ways we haven’t even imagined yet.
Before God formed you in the womb, He knew all about you. And He has a purpose for you and longs for you to approach Him to discover it.
