The Bible says that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) but I don't know about you but there are many, many times I have to question that. I certainly don't feel like I'm "fearfully and wonderfully made" and wonder sometimes why God made me the way I am.
To be transparent I wonder why I am not as tall or not as smart as others in addition to wondering why I can be moody, introverted or withdrawn at times. I don't classify that as being wonderfully made.
When examining this more closely, we all have a soul and that is a part of us but the physical and phycological part of our being is affected by many things. We are affected by things we inherited as well as the foods we eat, the environment around us and the behaviors we learn. For instance, we may ask God why a baby is born addicted to crack. That was never God's intention; however, because of the choices made by the baby's mother, this was passed to them. God never "made" us with these imperfections, the results of this fallen world has made us the way we are.
The foods we eat affects neurons, which are the major cells of the brain. In the brain, an unhealthy diet that is rich in fats and sugars causes inflammation of neurons and inhibits the formation of new neurons. This can affect the way the brain works and contribute to brain disorders like depression.
Light directly affects our circadian rhythms—the biological clock that tells us when it’s time to sleep—and sleep habits are closely linked to mood. Insufficient levels of natural and/or artificial light in our room can create stress and anxiety. Neuroscientists at the University of Pennsylvania found that rats who were kept in the dark for six weeks exhibited depressive behavior. In addition, the researchers observed damage in the areas of the rats’ brains that produced norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters involved in emotion. These are the same areas of the brain that are under-active in people with depression. In addition, light that’s too bright at night disrupts sleep and therefore mood.
It is clear that we all have things about us that we aren't happy with and wonder why God made us the way we are. It's not always an easy answer. I know sometimes I have been mad at God about it. I really get frustrated when I can't be better in some areas of my life. I wish sometimes I wasn't lacking in some areas, but I know that there are certain learned behaviors and physical challenges cause me to always have to deal with it.
Yes, sometimes we ARE born certain ways and that's who we are. Some things we can change but some things will always be a struggle for us. Those are the things which should cause us to be more dependent on God rather than drive us away from Him.
The Apostle Paul faced the same issue when the New Testament mentioned He had a "thorn in the flesh". We don't exactly know what it was, and no one really knows what it was. Maybe we don't know because we all could fill in the blank with our own. Here was Paul's response:
"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)
I know that's not the answer any of us wants. Our weaknesses handicap us and frustrate us in our daily lives. We want to be well and happy but unfortunately, we will never get that in this broken world where we live. And just as Paul found out, being a follower of Christ isn't a magic formula to take away those unpleasant things we don't like about us.
Regardless of our flaws, we can be a gift to someone around us. How we deal with our flaws could help someone else. We all have our own crosses to bear in this life and it isn't always easy. We spend too much time blaming God. Blaming God doesn't do us any good so why not try the opposite and turn to God rather than away from Him. It won't guarantee that your "thorn" will be taken away, but it might help you cope with a better mindset.
