For you formed my inward parts;  you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;  my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139: 13-14 NIV

Last Saturday, my granddaughter was born. She is our second grandchild and our first granddaughter. I am thrilled to be helping out this first week of her life—cooking, helping with my two-year-old grandson, taking early morning baby shifts, etc. We’re all exhausted. But in the middle of the night, I hold this miracle and worship God.

God allows us to partake in the glory of co-creating life! When I consider the births of my own three children, I recall the moment of their delivery and my surprise and awe each time a head appeared from my lower parts.

You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb—Wonderful are your works—my soul knows it very well!

I’m painfully aware of my sinful nature, as well as the sinful disposition of my children and grandchildren. We challenge authority. We want our will to take precedent over the will of all others. We lie, sneak, steal, to satisfy our desires and justify our behavior.

At the same time, the Bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139: 14) in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). When God made man and woman, he called his creation “very good.”

The reality of our condition—sinful by nature and wonderful by creation—is evident in every baby and in every life. Wonderful people, diverse and creative, compassionate and kind, are capable of the most selfish and horrific behavior. My own tendency to judge without compassion confirms this paradoxical truth.

God’s word states, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But he also says, while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10).

Thus, in Christ the wonder-full creation of human life is returned to glory. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior by faith, we receive the righteousness of Christ and His Spirit begins to disable and put to death the power of sin in our lives. Love, freedom, joy, and gratitude naturally follow.

This has been my experience and can be yours.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Psalm 139:16-18 NIV