Being aware of my many limitations, I had often questioned why God considers that we have been “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139: 13-14).
The science of the human body
I then thought about the subjects we studied in the first 2 years of medical school, the science of the human body, ie anatomy, biochemistry and physiology. Eureka! I got my answer. I thought about how each cell functions, how each organ functions so that the body as a whole can perform, I realized that our bodies are so complex that only God could have created us.
Just consider the heart. It receives deoxygenated blood from the rest of the body, pumps the blood into the lungs to be oxygenated, and receives oxygenated blood from the lungs to pump to the rest of the body. And it does this continuously and rhythmically without stopping, to keep us alive.
Even if some of us are born with abnormalities, each microscopic cell and each part of the body continues to function to keep us alive.
If we get injured, so long as the injury is not too serious, the body can repair itself. You must have heard that when you have a common cold or flu, what you need most are rest, fluids and vitamin C, for your body to heal itself.
Animals and plants don’t go to school
Similarly with wildlife. They do not go to school, yet they have instincts to hunt for food, to procreate and care for their young, and to migrate for some species. When they are sick or injured, their bodies heal themselves unless the problem is too severe and life threatening.
Even plants are fearfully and wonderfully made. How nutrients and water are transported to different parts of the plant, how they reach towards the sun, how they propagate, how they regrow when they are pruned.
Focus on our strengths
When I developed that insight, I stopped focusing on my weaknesses. We are God’s wonderful creations. We should develop our areas of strength, and be the best that we can be. We are indeed, fearfully and wonderfully made.
Even King David, who did not know anatomy, biochemistry and physiology, was inspired to proclaim “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.”
lingsinglin
Dr Ling Sing Lin is a medical doctor by training. She worked in MOH HQ for many years, in policy making and administrative positions, until her retirement.
