Psalm 139 – (Wonderfully Made) Danielle Rose [Lyrics]

This beautiful and scripturally sound song has been on my mind a lot lately. The World Day of Prayer on 7th March 2025 is titled “I made you wonderful”.

I used this song at my husband’s funeral, as we took our seats and his coffin was brought in. The whole theme of his funeral was that God KNEW him! I wrote the eulogy, which my son read out. I wrote the committal because I didn’t like the bulk standard one and wanted something more meaningful. It gave me something to focus on, something that I could do, and I wanted his funeral to be an outreach to those who knew John but didn’t know the Lord. As I’ve said before, in God’s economy nothing is wasted.

The funeral was held during covid restrictions, and we were only allowed 30 people at the chapel, masked and spread out, although many of his colleagues lined our road and gave him a round of applause as we left the house, which was very moving.

I’ve written before about my husband’s sudden death from a heart attack at the end of 2020, and the knock on emotional effects of that, which still overwhelm me at times.

My strong, robust and utterly dependable husband was suddenly unconscious and helpless. It was me who had to call the ambulance, drag him onto the floor and perform CPR until the paramedics arrived. Me who had to call my sons and tell them, “Dad’s on the floor, the paramedics are here. You need to come home!” Me who had to tell the medics it was OK to stop, an hour later, when they’d tried everything, and thank them for their efforts. It was me who became a widow that night…

And yet… throughout that trial, I KNEW, with 100% certainty, that God is good, SO, so good. I knew my beloved husband had gone to be with Jesus, and I was glad, inasmuch as all the alternatives would have been disastrous. He could have been revived but severely brain damaged. He could have needed 24hr care for the rest of his life, or he could have recovered but been unable to work or still do the things he loved… As it was, he was healed and whole and with Jesus, in an instant. Clear cut. Promoted to glory, just like that. 

To be honest, I’m glad it wasn’t me who died and left him behind! It would have been difficult for him as he was the practical one, whereas I was the organiser. He would have struggled to manage the admin, finances, and future planning on his own. He was a wonderful husband and father, a strong character with a soft heart, always willing to help people. We were two halves of the whole and complimented each other well, each bringing our own strengths and gifts to the marriage. I’m glad he made his final journey without pain and suffering. That’s surely what we all desire for those we love?

Anyhow, I’m not quite sure how I ended up here, but I would just say, if you’ve lost your spouse or life partner, it’s a very winding road to recovery… never quite knowing what’s round the next bend. I guess it’s a bit like being a recovering addict, you just take one day at time. Always moving forward, because going back is not an option.

God is good, so very, very good. I want everyone to know that! He loves us with a never-ending, sacrificial love.

I concluded my husband’s eulogy as follows:

God knew John, and he knows YOU. He sees YOUR going out, and your coming in. He knew YOU before you were formed in your mother’s womb. (Ps139).

Do you know him?