Day 53: When we Doubt that God Can Understand Us

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away—Psalm 139:2

For Insight

The perfect knowledge of God for his creation is beyond our comprehension. God has not only knit us together in our mother’s womb, but he also understands us completely. Though we like to believe we can, not even any human, no matter how close they are to us or how well they know us can understand us the way God does.

My husband and I have been married for nearly fifty years and as well as we (think) we know each other we can never assume to know one another perfectly. We will never reach that place where we have perfect knowledge of one another. We still surprise one another sometimes. Only God has perfect knowledge. Only God knows our thoughts before we express them. Only God knows the words we will speak before we speak them. Only God knows our ways and the paths we will choose.

As humans we can get ourselves embroiled in complicated situations, make a mess of life, find ourselves in places that surprise even us, and we may feel a need to explain our position, or excuse our behavior just as Adam did in the Garden when God asked him what happened. “It is the woman you gave me, Lord…” (Gen. 3:12) Yet, as David says in Psalm 103:14 God needs no explanation he already knows we are a frail species. God never loses sight of our humanity, that we are made of dust, carnal in nature and prone to sin. He has already seen every sin we will commit on our journey home.  

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23) Because God understands our frame and make up, how frail we are, he prepares fresh mercy, fresh grace, fresh forgiveness for us daily. Because he has perfect knowledge of us, we never have to doubt that he understands us through and through.

Because God’s understanding is complete and we never have to doubt we can always pray in confidence and ask for his understanding, grace and forgiveness with faith and confidence. Surprised by our actions, humbled by our fallen nature, we can still come to the throne of God boldly and experience grace in time of need. And though no human can ever know God as completely as he knows us, if we know him as well as we ought, we can be assured he will not withhold grace, forgiveness nor love.

We are sinful beings, Lord, and sometimes we surprise even ourselves by what we think, say, and do. Yet you are never surprised nor put off by us. May we never doubt the thoroughness of your knowledge nor the thoroughness of your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen   

For Application

What word or attitude comes to mind when you consider how thoroughly God knows you?    

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