The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;…†     Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NIV)
This week the Lord has laid the question on my heart: Am I of significance to God?†Some may think this arrogant, selfish, even narcissistic – but have you ever been through a tough time in your life and wondered if God had forgotten you? Have you ever been blind-sided by a seemingly tiny event but it brought you to your knees and yet you felt silly asking the Lord of the universe who has wars and massive famine and millions of children who surely have bigger needs than your little devastation??! Just how important am I to God?
God says He has known me since – well, before I was two cells big! There is not another Jody Grossheider Webb Neufeld! I am the only Jody (etc on the names) that God has made since – ever! Grab on to that, my friends and seekers. God has not cloned or replicated! Even identical twins are two individuals in God’s creation log. God made me different than all His other children. He did it on purpose!
When I cry out to God, He knows my voice. He hears my cries and is there to pick me up and comfort me and reassure me that He is there and never left in the first place.
My doubt comes from a false idea that God has some limitation on how many children He can hear and how many children to whom He can respond. And how many children He loves. He is GOD! Is the Creator of ALL limited? Noooo. Is the LORD of Lords and KING of Kings limited? Noooo.
Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.        Psalm 139:1-4 (WEB)
I know this may be a very familiar psalm but I hope today that everyone will take the time to read it again, slowly and thoroughly…all 24 verses. As I read this psalm, putting myself into the role of writer and opened my heart and spirit to really accept that Yahweh knows and loves me, I confess that tears came to my eyes. I so felt the incredible blanket of love that assured me that despite the disobedient child that I see in myself, God sees His child and loves her.
Tomorrow we will learn some more about that Father’s heart.
Hi Jody! Have thought of you so many times over the years! I just read the article about your son John from 2004! It hurt to see what all has transpired in your life but I know that with your joyful spirit you have so many blessings that you are still finding the joy in life! Just wanted to reach out to my old St. Joe classmate. Best wishes and love!