Does God know how hard this is? Does He know how things are going to turn out? What if things get worse? Does He know my pain and the aching of my heart? Does He know my “what if” thoughts?
To God my earnest voice I raise,
to God my voice imploring prays;
before his face my grief I show
and tell my trouble and my woe.
(“To God My Earnest Voice I Raise,” Public domain)
God knows all, as we suffer
The fancy word is “omniscient.” God says He is all-knowing about the billions of simultaneous details…of everything. When “what if” thoughts pop up, it comforts me to know God is omniscient, far beyond what I could possibly know, as a mere human. Honestly, do I really want to know about something I couldn’t possibly understand? Could I even cope with knowing what will happen tomorrow? Could I better rest and relax into in the fact that my loving Father knows all?
Because this, this is our God:
Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose” (Is. 46:10 ESV).
He knows everything about us, numbering each of our hairs (Mt. 10:30), knowing the tiniest dysfunctional cell of our sick bodies, every situation and conversation, our every thought (e.g., Ps. 139:2-4; Eze. 11:5; 1 Chron. 28:9).
God knows our needs
Does it scare you that He knows your every thought? My “what if” thoughts definitely reveal my ongoing need for Jesus. They can quickly become sinful. I easily fall into a trap of focusing on my own imaginations of the worst to come, rather than on my good and loving Father Who knows what I need.
When gloom and sorrow compass me,
the path I take is known to thee,
and all the toils that foes do lay
to snare thy servant in his way.
Our thoughts alone reveal facets of the old sin nature that still remains in us, even though He’s cleansed us from our sin by Jesus’ work on the cross. But, in His omniscient knowing, God knew we needed a Savior right now because we are sinners! And the gospel is His victory over our enemy, the foe who tries to snare our thoughts as we suffer. No, we are fully known, loved, forgiven, redeemed by our Father, as those in Christ.
We are known, in Jesus Christ
God’s executing His kingdom plan of all-knowing and deep love for His children, prophesied and promised. Known.
Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men (Acts 2:23 ESV).
And we, sister in Christ, are part of His kingdom plan for all of history. God knows we need His continual grace when we sin (Ps. 90:8; Rom. 5:8; 1 Jn. 3:20; Heb 4:13, 16). He knows our suffering creates a fresh dependence on His all-knowing and best way for us. He knows we need Jesus.
O Lord, my Savior, now to thee,
without a hope besides, I flee,
to thee, my shelter from the strife,
my portion in the land of life.
God knows best, as we suffer
So, what can we do? Because He knows the future, knows us intimately as His adopted children, and knows our deepest needs, we can pray for His continual guidance, wisdom, and strength to endure this suffering. Because He knows and loves us! Beloved in Christ, let’s seek Him with this prayer:
Material adapted from Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character in Our Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle. Copyright © 2022, Singing Christ’s Hope.
A playlist to sing to our all-knowing Father
This week’s YouTube playlist gift gives us lyrics to pray to our all-knowing Father. It’s a playlist of prayer, asking Him to search our hearts, asking Him to help us find freedom and peace in resting in His all-knowing best way for us, as we suffer. It’s a playlist He’s used to help me repent of thinking I know what’s best, helping me to trust in His continual grace as the One who knows me intimately. It’s a playlist that’s helped me endure my latest illness suffering until the day He brings about healing.
As we look to the cross of Jesus Christ, we remember we are fully known…and completely forgiven and always loved. This gospel-centered playlist helps us praise the Lord with gratitude for His grace to us in Christ. I’d love to share it with you too! To receive my weekly playlist gifts in your email, sign up here and I pray they will be His gift to help you endure with faith, as you suffer today.
