Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Learning to See Myself Through God’s Eyes
This morning, I sat outside with my journal, trying to process a lot of things. My therapist had given me a simple assignment: write down two things I like about myself and a mantra.
I actually wrote down four. That may not sound like much, but for me, it felt like a breakthrough.
Here’s what I wrote:
I like how business-minded I am.
I have great ideas (I wrote “good ideas,” but crossed it out for “great”).
I am a great friend.
I am a loyal and committed partner.
My mantra reads:
I love myself completely.
I am worthy of love.
I am loved.
I am enough.
At the top of the page, I had written: “Love is a verb.”
As I looked at my list and my mantra, one scripture kept coming to mind—a verse most of us know:
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139:14)
I’ve always understood the “wonderfully made” part—it speaks to God’s craftsmanship and the uniqueness of His handiwork. But “fearfully”? That word never sat right with me.
What “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” Really Means
I decided to look it up.
“Fearfully” in Hebrew is yare—which means “with great reverence, awe, or respect.” It’s not about being scary. It’s about something so profound and sacred it inspires awe.
“Wonderfully” in Hebrew is pala—“apart, marvelous, extraordinary, distinct.” It speaks to the uniqueness and specialness of what God has done.
Together, “fearfully and wonderfully made” means I have been created with awe-inspiring skill, care, and purpose. My existence—body, soul, and mind—is sacred, intentional, and extraordinary.
This verse isn’t only about our physical appearance. It’s about the entire person: the personality, the emotions, the story, and the intentional way God put each of us together.
The Call to Self-Respect
When David says, “I praise you,” it’s a response of worship and gratitude for God’s intentional creation.
For me, it’s also a call to self-respect. If God created me with such reverence and purpose, how dare I treat myself as if I’m worthless? How dare I disrespect His handiwork by speaking negatively about myself or living as though I have no value?
I thought about my car when I first bought it. I didn’t worship it, but I cared for it. I washed it often. I didn’t let food or clutter build up. I valued it, not for the price tag, but for what it took for me to be able to buy it—the time, the sacrifice, the commitment.
Shouldn’t I treat myself with at least that same level of dignity? God invested infinitely more into creating me than I invested into buying that car.
Feelings vs. Truth
A friend and I often debate whether feelings are “real.” They are—because we experience them. But just because a feeling is real doesn’t mean it’s true.
When I feel like I’m not enough or not worthy, Psalm 139:14 contradicts those feelings. My feelings are real, but they’re not factual.
I was created with care and intention. That truth doesn’t change based on what others say about me or how they treat me. It doesn’t change based on my successes or failures.
Our worth was established before we ever performed a single act, before we became caregivers, before we landed the job, before we succeeded—or failed. We were already enough. We were already worthy.
Period.
Practicing the Truth
Knowing all this is one thing; living it out is another. It takes practice. Here are some ways I’m learning to practice it:
Affirmations and Scripture: Reciting my mantra and meditating on Psalm 139 (the whole passage, not just verse 14).
Gratitude Lists: Writing down aspects of myself I’m grateful for every day.
Dignity as a Non-Negotiable: Using this verse as a filter for how I treat myself and what I accept from others.
Compassion Toward My Whole Self: Learning to extend kindness to the parts of me I want to dismiss or dislike.
It’s hard at first. My inner critic fights me. But even writing down four things I like about myself was progress. It’s a start.
A Prayer of Gratitude
This morning ended in prayer:
God, forgive me for not honoring the work You’ve done in me. Help me learn to love what You already love—not just accept it, but love it. Show me which parts of me You put there for a reason, and help me see them as assets for my purpose. Thank You for creating me with care, intention, and love.
I’m learning to say, “I know You love me” not only because of what You’ve done in my life, but because of how You created me.
Closing Thoughts
When we start to really believe that we’re fearfully and wonderfully made, it reshapes everything—our self-talk, our relationships, our standards, our gratitude.
You and I were crafted with awe and wonder. Our worth isn’t up for debate.
You are worthy. Period.
Until Next Time-J.Branch