Completely Known

Have you ever been in a situation that you didn’t want someone to know completely who you were? I know I have! Many reasons provoke these feelings, from being afraid that questions may be asked that we really do not want to discuss, concerned that we may not feel qualified to the degree that may be requested, or maybe even in one of my cases, for safety. While on a mission trip, we answered that we were in country “doing construction work” (which we were) rather than saying our main reason for being in the country was a mission trip. To accomplish our goal and stay safe, we did not divulge the whole story while on that mission trip. It's not wrong to hold back certain information at times whether for safety, to allow for planning, waiting for a more appropriate time or many other reasons. Jesus gave us examples of this in Mark 8:29-30 and 9:2-9. Jesus “knew His time had not yet come,” so He instructed those who knew Him not to share their knowledge at that specific time. There is no doubt that we are all grateful that people do not know us completely. We all have feelings, thoughts, and emotions that we’d rather keep to ourselves or maybe we are blessed to have a special accountability partner that she alone knows our deepest thoughts.  

One of my favorite Psalms is 139 and one thing that is abundantly clear in this Psalm is that God knows EVERYTHING about me and continues to love and accept me just the same. He does the same for you! Matthew 10:30 says, “even the very hairs of our head are numbered by Him.” Friend, that is hard for me to imagine, but I know God’s Word is true! Just like David in verse 6 of Psalm 139, I cannot fathom all the blessings that God continually bestows on me despite knowing everything about me- the good, bad and the ugly!!!! From time to time, I will sit and make a list of blessings God has bestowed on me (big & small). Without fail, that special time with God ends with a time of praise, rejoicing and tears shed because I am SO LOVED by my Creator and Savior.

Psalm 139 is a precious chapter from start to finish, but I’d like to pull out a couple verse that are special to me. I encourage you to go to your Bible or App and read the whole chapter which is only 24 verses. Our little dog, Mya, would much rather be running around in the open yard than in her fenced area. But at times Mya gets distracted with what appears pleasurable to her and she takes off running 2 doors down to visit other dogs or she darts to the golf course to visit with strangers on a golf cart. The problem is that we can not protect her when she is running off on her own. Oh how verses 5-6 give me comfort in knowing that God protects me on all sides! I must share the verses:

“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” 

What a wonderful comfort knowing that God is guarding us from past as well as future happenings. There is a song that says, “Don’t hem me in,” but sweet sister, I am SO THANKFUL that God has placed a protective presence that only He can do on my life. No matter what happens in my life, where I am or where I go, if others treat me wrong or if I head toward the wrong path, God’s presence and guiding hand go before me as well as behind me. When we allow Him, God will fight our battles and help during difficult times.

Even as I take comfort in verse 5, I couldn’t share my feeling of the knowledge of Psalm 139 any better than David did in verse 6: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is high; I cannot attain it.” God knows and understands me even better than I know myself. I’m not sure I have a word for the awesome comfort that gives me.

Not only am I comforted by verse 5, but as the verses continue, I pause again at verses 13-18 in agreement with David. Again, I think “how precious to me are your (God’s) thoughts” and just how vast they are. Not just thoughts of creation but MY creation. Yep, those freckles on my nose, my speech difficulties, my eye that crosses occasionally despite patching as a kid, and much more- God created me in my mother’s womb just the way He wanted me. Nothing about me is unknown to Him- created wonderfully just the way I am for His plan.

Sweet friend, if you have ever sat in a class that I taught or facilitated, seen me directing a conference or just spoken to me in a casual setting you will occasionally see me struggle to form my words. Listen, that’s me! That’s who God created me to be and only He knows His purpose, but it is perfect! How blessed am I to be created so wonderfully by the Master of all creators. I am special and so are you! Embrace those things that God made different about you. Give Him praise as He weaves your differences into a beautiful masterpiece for Him. Oh, how wonderful are His thoughts regarding us.  

I could stop here and be blessed, but we can’t leave this Psalm without offering ourselves up to our wonderful Creator! Let’s pause just a few minutes at verses 23-24.

“Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way.”

What a prayer David lifted to God! Are you ready to pray those words? These two verses present David’s self-examination under God’s divine guidance, acknowledging that God is omniscient, fully aware of everything about David, and capable of purifying David's thoughts and soothing his fears. Are you open to being tested, allowing God to provide, and willing to be led by God rather than your own desires? That’s precisely where we should be in our journey with God.

Take time to read Psalm 139 today and maybe every day this week. As you read, think of verses 1-6 describing God’s omniscience (all-knowing), verses 7-12 describing God’s omnipresence and His omnipotence being described in verses 13-16. David acknowledged these wonderful attributes of God before he pours out his feelings and thoughts to God in verses 17-24. Focus on the powerful theme of God’s intimate knowledge and presence in our lives. Take pleasure in reflecting on God’s amazing love for you, knowing that you can trust in His guidance and provision.

Dear sister, God created us, knows us completely, and loves us so much that He sent His Son for us. Be grateful for the unique way you were made and for God's wonderful care and love for you. Ask God to reveal any anxious thoughts that might offend Him and seek specific guidance to eliminate the thoughts causing anxiety. At the time I wrote this blog entry, a battle was raging in my life, known only to two other people. Sister, when I say it was heavy, it truly was. Yet, one thing I know is that God loves me, understands all my struggles and trials, and He alone can address them. That's what sustains me in this challenging world. He has a plan beyond my imagination. My role is to trust Him, seek His will daily, and dedicate myself as an offering for His purpose. Trials are plentiful, but praise God, He knows everything about me—even my thoughts—and I am "hemmed in" by God with His hand upon me. Praise God, and can I get an AMEN!

Verses to meditate on: Psalm 139, 121:5-8; Deuteronomy 31:6;  Isaiah 41:10,  46:9-10; Jeremiah 17:10, 20:12; Matthew 10:30-31

Prayer: Heavenly Father, today I am pouring out my heart to You. I know you already know my thoughts, but I want to verbalize in sweet communion with You. “Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way.”  I am asking You to show me any thoughts or actions that may be hurtful to others as well as myself and trusting You to guide me as You reveal these things to me. Thank You for your abundant love and guidance. May I be found faithful of all that You have entrusted me with. I love You, praise You and want to serve You to the best of my ability. Thank You for my weaknesses that draw me to dependence on You as well as the strengths that You planted deep within my being. Lord, I just want to thank You for Your wonderful creation of me. Amen