Design and Purpose

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:13–14

In a recent text thread, my friend Martha West wrote this about the scripture above: “We are all such unique expressions and wonders to honor and behold. There are times when we need to have the Artist’s eyes to see the inherent beauty when it becomes so broken or tarnished.” As I was pondering her comment, I got a picture of an attic in an old house with objects covered in years of dust and decay. Amidst all the musty clutter are paintings, valuable paintings, just waiting to be discovered. My mind went immediately to Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT). 

I hadn’t thought of these two scriptures together before—one from the Old Covenant and one from the New. They both declare the miracle of human life, designed by God, made to fulfill a destiny. David ponders the beginning of his life, and, from prison, Paul addresses the saints at Ephesus with whom he had shared life for three years, perhaps contemplating the end of his. 

This previous year and its trials and tribulations have probably caused us all to be more cautious. Some of us have spent decades convinced we don’t have a design or destiny. Or, even if we were certain of ourselves or our paths in life, we may feel like the previous year has taken the best of us. Some of us may be struggling to see purpose or design in what lies ahead. 

Wherever you or I may fall along that spectrum, we, like David and Paul, would do well to spend some time pondering the beauty and design God had in mind when He fashioned each of us. If there’s any time we need to have the Artist’s eyes my friend Martha mentioned, it’s now. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, and we are made to do good works that He prepared for us long ago. What treasures might God reveal in and through you? What adventures and plans does He have for you? Tuning into that would be well worth it! 

Do you need help with that? In our Connection Prayer appointments at ONE, a question we often ask Jesus is what His favorite thing is about the beloved who is receiving prayer. I love hearing the wonderful things Jesus says about His people. Those answers begin to get at that design and destiny. I never get tired of it! So make a prayer appointment or come enjoy our open sanctuary or worship time on Wednesdays through February. You can find details on our website at one-sa.org/resources