A deep awareness of God’s knowledge of us and our circumstances is a huge protection against anxiety, against the need to settle the score, and against despair in the midst of suffering.
Against Anxiety
Pilate said to Jesus in John 19, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” These kinds of questions would make most of us anxious. Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me unless it had been given to you from above.”
Who says stuff like that in the face of impending death? Only someone totally confident in the power, presence, and providence of God. Seeing God’s hand in the situation makes all the difference. We see something similar in the Sermon on the Mount. “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear? For … your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”
Against Score-Settling
We read of Jesus in 1 Peter 2 that “when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” It’s not just “vengeance is mine, I will repay” as we read elsewhere. It’s the peace that comes from understanding that “God will judge us rightly, so it’s okay if others don’t.”
Against Despair in Suffering
Joseph, sold to slavery in Egypt, years later said to his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” Seeing God’s hand behind life’s hardships, using those hardships for good in ways we may not recognize, strengthens us in the midst of inevitable trials. If it’s not yet good, we know God’s not yet done. Hardship and loss do sting, but Jesus will make all things new.
In Psalm 139, we read of God’s comprehensive knowledge of us: “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” I doubt any of us would care to be known that well by anyone! It’s way too frightening.
But with God, there’s no reason to fear. Because the One who knows us fully, even our greatest faults and failures, has and continues to love and uphold us. If God is for us, who can be against us? While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Nothing will separate us from His love. He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.
Notice David’s response at the end of Psalm 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Having reflected on God’s intimate knowledge of him, David has the boldness to invite God to know him even further. He could only do so if he was certain of God’s acceptance. Campus ministry worker Chelsea Kelly put it this way, “The Lord searches our hearts not to find reasons to condemn us, but to reveal every nook and cranny that has already received his mercy.”
The God Who Follows Us
Maybe you’ve attended a dinner with an important speaker. Or a concert. You feel you know the person, have a connection with them. It’s easy to say, “I know so-and-so, whoever the famous person is.” It’s something entirely different to say, “That person knows me.” It’s one thing to follow someone famous on social media. It’s another thing if that person follows you! Right? Even better, the God of the universe follows us, knows us.
The good shepherd we read about in Psalm 23 or John 10 isn’t just leading us through the valley of the shadow of death. He’s walking beside us as our companion. He’s with us. He can fully sympathize. He’s been tempted in every way as we are and yet without sin. Think of a child who’s scared of the dark. He’s probably going to run through a dark corridor to get out of there as fast as possible. The only people who can simply walk through the valley of the shadow of death are those who have no reason to fear.
Knowledge of God doesn’t always lead to life change. It can get stuck somewhere between our head and our heart. But a deep awareness of God’s knowledge of us and our circumstances can’t help but be transformative.
Alex Chediak (Ph.D., U.C. Berkeley) is a professor and the author of Thriving at College (Tyndale House, 2011), a roadmap for how students can best navigate the challenges of their college years. His latest book is Beating the College Debt Trap. Learn more about him at www.alexchediak.com or follow him on Twitter (@chediak).
