Known

Written by Joy Gilman

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."

Psalm 139 :23-24 NLT

The desire to feel known is a primal need woven into each human heart. Something in us craves authentic connection. We long to be seen and understood. Support groups are populated with people aching to have others bear witness to their struggle or sorrow and to hear the words, "I get you." But even deeper is our thirst to not just be known, but to simultaneously also be loved. One of man's fundamental questions is, if we allow ourselves to be known, will we be loved? Most of us have come to realize that human love can only take us so far. We are finite, imperfect creatures. But there is One who is all knowing and all loving.

God beckons us to come near, to step into the light, to come out of hiding, for no hiding place exists before the eyes of the Lord. In fact, Psalm 139 states that there has never been a moment since the onset of your existence that God was not completely dialed in to every detail of you. He thought you up and pieced you together with His perfect hands. With arms perpetually spread wide, He calls us close. In that closeness, because He loves us, He addresses the secret things, the ugly things, the broken things, the irretrievable things, and leads us into a better way. But we must choose to participate in the process. Even though the Almighty is all-knowing, we must humble ourselves and acknowledge the entirety of who we are. We must come clean. We must have the courage to be engaged in the knowing. Then and only then can we experience the fullness of His love that leads to the path of everlasting life.

Recommended reading:

1 John 1:5-10

Isaiah 40:21-31

Psalm 139