Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Jeremiah one five. Imagine my surprise. A few years ago I received an invitation to compete in a beauty pageant to be held in a major us city later that year. Contestants would compete for college scholarships and cash awards. The judges would select a winner based on personality, talent and of formal wear competition. Nothing was said about swimsuits. There was just one itsy bitsy problem. The pageant was for those 23 years of age and under having reached what I shall refer to as the more mature years, I was no longer eligible. Don't cry for me though. I was not disappointed. Besides, I really had no interest then, nor do I now, in being Miss teen USA. No doubt I was invited to participate in a beauty pageant by mistake. Mistakes happen. I make them, you make them. Everyone makes them. Everyone but God. Of course. God makes no mistakes. Never has, never will. Oh sure, sometimes we and our our infinite wisdom might think that God has made a mistake. But we are wrong. God knows exactly what he is doing all the time and it will go much better for us if we acknowledge the fact. Rather than trying to outthink God, we might not like what we see in the mirror. Our hair might be all wrong or even missing. Our teeth might be crooked. Our voice might sound weird. We might be too short or too tall for our liking. And lets not even begin to talk about the lack of talent or intelligence we believe we possess. But guess what? You are what you are and who you are. You are uniquely you. There is no one exactly like you. Even identical twins are unique individuals who can respond in different ways to the same situation. God knew what he was doing when he made you, regardless of whether you are male or female. He knows what you can and cannot do. He loves you not because you are just like everyone else. He loves you because you are not just like everyone else. Your unique differences are what delights God every bit as much as the variety of wildflowers growing in a field delights us. That we never win beauty contest means nothing. But to be true to our calling, faithful to the Bible and committed to our creator in every way means everything.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to dailythoughtspodcastmail.com dot. Have a great day and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.