Today marks 19 years since my dad left this earth and stepped into heaven. He was a remarkable man. A tremendous storyteller, musician, and truly kind-hearted soul. I came along as a later-in-life surprise for him. He turned 42 just 2 weeks after my birth. He always told me that I was the best surprise he ever had. Even though I wasn’t necessarily planned for, I knew that I was wanted and loved. I’m sure that my arrival caused some disruption. However, I always felt secure in the love of my parents.

Even though I was a surprise to my parents, I wasn’t a surprise to God. He knew I existed before anyone else did. Psalm 139:13-16 tells us, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” What a comfort to rest in the knowledge that the Creator of the universe knew me from the very beginning!

No matter what the circumstances of your birth, planned or unplanned, your arrival did not take God by surprise. He has known you from the very beginning. You are so precious to Him that He made a way for you to live with Him for eternity. You can rest secure in the awareness that you are known, wanted, and loved by God Himself. Fall into His arms and let His love overwhelm your heart. You are known.