You Jelly Brah?

Kids are amazing reflecting pools. In them we can see our joy and aspirations, or our fears and disappointments. My niece just hit six feet tall, and I have to admit I’m a bit jealous. When I was a kid, I used to imagine myself growing to be six feet, four inches tall. At that idealized height, I imagined myself dunking with ferocity on the basketball court as well as finally towering my father (perhaps to compete with his imposing gravitas).

I’ve topped out at about six feet – with socks on. I never reached the height of my dreams, although I do occasionally hope for an amazing post-pubescent growth spurt. On top of that, my vertical leap isn’t going to get me into the NBA anytime soon. Thus, it seems that the body I have is just that – the body I have.

It’s easy to look at other people on the street and admire their physique, their height, and their athletic ability. In fact, it’s easy to admire non-physical qualities too such as intelligence and artistic ability. Far too often though, the admiration is just a sheath for jealousy and envy. We don’t just admire what other people possess, we want it. We covet what we know we cannot have.

Of course, this is only leads to dissatisfaction with what we do have, and can cause us to overlook the wonderful assets that God has blessed us with. Although I’m not six-four, I am taller than some of my guy friends, and at least one has told me that he wishes he had my height!

The truth is that God has created each of us with our own special blend of talents and abilities. We are not defective. Have you ever seen a beautiful sunset? Or marveled at the radiance of the moon and the stars? The same majestic being that created them created you too – all of us.

In Psalm 139:13-16 we read:
For you created my innermost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
(New International Version via BibleGateway.com)

You are fearfully and wonderfully made by awesome being who’s works are wonderful. Think about that for a minute. You are a wonderful work. No matter what your personal circumstances are, or whatever parts of your body or persona you don’t like, realize that you are the wonderful work of an infinitely powerful being.

Pastor Kerrick Thomas at the Journey recently delivered a great sermon on this passage, and Rev. Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church also delivered an excellent sermon on this passage about a year ago or so. I don’t have links to the audio but if you go on the Journey or Redeemer websites you can probably find them there. Or you can contact each church for assistance.