Font size: Medium ![Featured image for Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Meaning in Psalm 139 - Blog article by Jessica DeYoung](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_800,h_800,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1785044595/perspectivesintopractice/blog/fearfully-wonderfully-made-meaning-psalm-139-1785044595516.jpg) ![Jessica DeYoung - Author photo](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_48,h_48,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1783725439/users/avatars/mi003p5uewiqh1wks1wr.jpg) Jessica DeYoung July 26, 2026 # Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Meaning in Psalm 139 10 min read[Identity in Christ & Self-Worth](/blog/categories/identity-in-christ "View all posts in Identity in Christ & Self-Worth")[Part of topic: Identity in Christ and Wholeness](/blog/pillar/identity-in-christ-wholeness "Part of topic: Identity in Christ and Wholeness") [#Identity](/blog/tags/identity) Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Meaning: Seeing Yourself Through God’s Eyes Friends, the fearfully and wonderfully made meaning is for the woman who has ever looked in the mirror and wondered if she is too much, not enough, behind, overlooked, or some Share This Blog Share article on social media [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Fearfully%20and%20Wonderfully%20Made%20Meaning%20in%20Psalm%20139&url=https%3A%2F%2Fperspectivesintopractice.com%2Fblog%2Ffearfully-wonderfully-made-meaning-psalm-139)[Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fperspectivesintopractice.com%2Fblog%2Ffearfully-wonderfully-made-meaning-psalm-139)[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=Fearfully%20and%20Wonderfully%20Made%20Meaning%20in%20Psalm%20139%20https%3A%2F%2Fperspectivesintopractice.com%2Fblog%2Ffearfully-wonderfully-made-meaning-psalm-139) ## Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Meaning: Seeing Yourself Through God’s Eyes Friends, the **fearfully and wonderfully made meaning** is for the woman who has ever looked in the mirror and wondered if she is too much, not enough, behind, overlooked, or somehow missed by God. In this post, we’re going to look at Psalm 139, what this truth means for your identity in Christ, and a few simple ways to practice seeing yourself the way God already sees you. ## Why This Truth Matters When You Feel Not Enough Can I tell you something? I have had moments where I knew the right Bible answer, but my heart still struggled to believe it. I remember standing in front of the mirror one morning, hair half-done, coffee getting cold on the counter, and a whole list of things running through my mind. The kids needed me. Ministry needed me. Laundry was giving me the side-eye from the corner. And then, without even realizing it, I started picking myself apart. My body. My energy. My capacity. My weaknesses. The way I handled something the day before. Hand to heart, ladies, I didn’t say those things out loud. I wouldn’t have talked to a friend that way. But I was letting those thoughts roll around in my mind like they had authority. Here’s the thing. When we forget the **fearfully and wonderfully made meaning**, we start letting culture, comparison, old wounds, and our own exhaustion define us. We forget that God was not careless when He made us. We forget that our value was never up for a vote. So I want you to slow down with me for a minute. Not in a polished, everything-is-fine way. In a real-life, messy-bun, tired-heart, Jesus-I-need-You way. ## Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Meaning in Psalm 139 The phrase comes from Psalm 139:13-14. David writes, “For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well” (CSB). That is where we get the **fearfully and wonderfully made meaning**. It is not a cute phrase for a coffee mug, although I do love a good coffee mug. It is a deep truth about God’s intentional design. When Scripture says we are fearfully made, it points to awe, reverence, and holy care. God did not throw you together. He formed you with wisdom. When Scripture says wonderfully made, it reminds us that His work is set apart, purposeful, and worthy of praise. You see, David is not praising himself in this Psalm. He is praising God. He is looking at the design and saying, “Lord, You did this. You are wonderful.” That matters because understanding the **fearfully and wonderfully made meaning** is not about self-obsession. It is about worship. It is about agreeing with God instead of arguing with Him. How many of you have ever looked at something God created, like a sunrise, a newborn baby, the ocean, or even the way your child laughs with their whole body, and thought, “Wow, God is amazing”? My friend, you are part of that same creative work. ### Psalm 139 Shows That God Sees the Hidden Places Psalm 139 is so personal. David talks about God knowing when he sits and rises, knowing his thoughts, surrounding him, and forming him in secret. That tells me something important. God saw you before anyone else saw you. Before people had opinions about you. Before anyone misunderstood you. Before you achieved anything. Before you failed at anything. God saw you and called His work wonderful. The **fearfully and wonderfully made meaning** begins with this truth: you were known by God before you were noticed by the world. ## Your Worth Is Rooted in God’s Design In our recent conversation on the _Perspectives Into Practice_ podcast with my sweet friend Alyx, we talked about what it means to be made in God’s image and how that truth changes the way we see ourselves and others. It was such a good reminder that identity is not something we have to hustle for. It is something we receive from the Lord. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female” (CSB). Before Psalm 139 tells us we are wonderfully made, Genesis tells us we are image-bearers. That means your worth is not based on your size, your relationship status, your motherhood status, your productivity, your past, your personality, or how well you held it together this week. Let me tell you, I need that reminder too. Some days I feel strong and clear. Other days I feel like I’m piecing together obedience with a prayer, a deep breath, and maybe a reheated cup of coffee. But God’s truth holds steady in both places. The **fearfully and wonderfully made meaning** reminds us that God’s design came before our doubts. His Word gets the first say. ### You Are More Than What You See in the Mirror We live in a world that trains us to measure ourselves constantly. We measure how we look, how we parent, how we serve, how much we earn, how fast we heal, and how spiritual we seem compared with someone else. But comparison will always shrink your view of God’s creativity. Friend, God did not make you to be a copy of another woman. He made you with your own story, your own gifts, your own tenderness, your own laugh, your own capacity, your own calling. And yes, even the parts of you that feel unfinished can become places where His grace shines. If comparison has been loud in your life, you may also find encouragement in [daily surrender for Christian women article](https://perspectivesintopractice.com/blog/daily-surrender-christian-women-abiding-god), because sometimes seeing ourselves clearly starts with laying down the pressure to be everything for everyone. ## How to Practice This Truth in Everyday Life Here is where we put perspectives into practice. Because knowing the **fearfully and wonderfully made meaning** is beautiful, but living like it’s true can take practice. I don’t want us to just nod along and then go right back to speaking harshly to ourselves. I want us to bring this truth into the kitchen, the car, the bathroom mirror, the doctor’s appointment, the hard conversation, and the quiet moments when insecurity tries to creep in. ### 1\. Speak Scripture Over Yourself Before Criticism Gets the First Word When you notice your thoughts turning cruel, pause. Actually pause. Put your hand on your heart if you need to. Say, “Lord, You made me. Your works are wonderful. Help me believe what You say.” You can write Psalm 139:14 on a sticky note, put it on your mirror, save it as your phone background, or copy it into your journal. If anxiety or racing thoughts make this hard, try pairing Scripture with a simple practice like [journaling prayer and Scripture article](https://perspectivesintopractice.com/blog/journaling-prayer-scripture-anxiety-ground-your-faith) to help your heart slow down and remember what is true. ### 2\. Thank God for One Part of Your Design This might feel awkward at first. I know. But gratitude retrains our attention. Maybe you thank Him for your hands because they hold your children, serve your neighbor, cook meals, write notes, or fold another load of towels. Maybe you thank Him for your voice because it can pray, encourage, sing, teach, apologize, and tell the truth. Maybe you thank Him for your sensitivity because it helps you notice hurting people. Maybe you thank Him for your strength because it has carried you through seasons you didn’t think you would survive. The **fearfully and wonderfully made meaning** becomes more personal when we stop treating our bodies and personalities like problems to manage and start seeing them as gifts to steward. ### 3\. Notice the Lies You Keep Repeating What do you keep saying about yourself? - “I’m too much.” - “I’m always behind.” - “I’m not as gifted as she is.” - “God can use other women, but probably not me.” - “I have messed up too much.” Bring those thoughts into the light. Ask God, “Is this from You?” If it produces shame, despair, and isolation, it is not leading you toward the Father’s heart. Romans 12:2 reminds us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Renewal takes time. It happens as we keep coming back to truth, again and again. ### 4\. Let Community Remind You When You Forget We were never meant to heal our identity alone. Sometimes you need a sister in Christ to look at you and say, “No, friend. That is not who God says you are.” That is one reason I care so much about honest conversations, conferences, and the podcast. We need spaces where women can tell the truth and be met with grace. If you are in a season where you feel worn thin, consider building simple rhythms with God and safe people. This post on [faith routines for life seasons article](https://perspectivesintopractice.com/blog/faith-routines-life-seasons-survival-wholeness) may help you take one small step from survival toward wholeness. ## What to Do When This Is Hard to Believe Can I be very gentle here? Some of you hear “you are fearfully and wonderfully made” and it hurts a little. Maybe because of what someone said about your body. Maybe because you were rejected. Maybe because shame has been sitting with you for so long that truth feels unfamiliar. I want you to know this: God is not frustrated with your process. Bring Him the honest sentence. “Lord, I want to believe I am wonderfully made, but I’m struggling.” That is a beautiful prayer. It is real. It opens the door. The **fearfully and wonderfully made meaning** does not require you to feel confident every second. It invites you to let God’s Word be more trustworthy than your feelings. And if your struggle is connected to trauma, disordered eating, deep shame, depression, or ongoing anxiety, please reach out for wise help. Talk with a trusted counselor, pastor, doctor, or mature believer. Faith and support can work together. You are not weak for needing help. You are human, and you are worth care. ### A Simple Prayer for Believing God’s Truth Father, thank You for making me with purpose and care. Forgive me for the ways I have agreed with lies about who I am. Help me receive the truth of Psalm 139. Teach me to see my body, my story, my gifts, and my life through Your eyes. Renew my mind. Heal what has been wounded. Make me brave enough to live as Your beloved daughter. In Jesus’ name, amen. ## Listen to the Full Podcast Conversation Friend, the **fearfully and wonderfully made meaning** is not just about feeling better about yourself. It is about worshiping the God who made you, trusting His design, and learning to walk in the identity He already gave you. You are not an accident. You are not a burden. You are not a project God regrets. You are His workmanship, created with care, seen with love, and invited to live from truth. If this stirred something in your heart, I want you to listen to the full _Perspectives Into Practice_ podcast episode, “What Does It Mean to Be Made in God’s Image?” Alyx and I talk more about identity, worth, comparison, and how this truth changes the way we treat ourselves and others. Grab your coffee, take a walk, or listen while you fold the laundry. And then, my friend, ask God one simple question: “Lord, how do You want me to see myself today?” Let’s keep putting these perspectives into practice, together. ## More from Identity in Christ & Self-Worth [ ![Featured image for Finding Faith After Loss: Real Steps to Rediscover God Through Grief](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_640,h_640,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1784918456/perspectivesintopractice/blog/finding-faith-after-loss-real-steps-to-rediscover-god-through-grief-1784918456182.jpg) Blog article ## Finding Faith After Loss: Real Steps to Rediscover God Through Grief Finding faith after loss is not easy, but hope can grow even in heartbreak. Learn simple, real-life ways to rebuild your faith and find hope after loss. 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