How Well I Know Him?

As my 27^th anniversary approaches at the end of this week, I am pondering how well I know my husband and just a little I know my husband. One would think that after 27 years of marriage a husband and wife would know everything about each other. I know that I am confident both in my love for David and David’s love for me. Often we can know exactly what the other person is thinking because we are thinking the same. Yet still my husband will say things that catch me totally off guard. I would not have guessed that he would’ve responded in that way to a particular set of circumstances. Likewise, I have said or done things that totally throw him for a loop. My reaction to a situation can sometimes baffle him. We know each other so well and so little all at the same time.

The same can also be true of our relationship with God. When we have some knowledge of God, we can mistakenly determine that we know what He will do in any given set of circumstances. There is some truth to this because the Scripture tells us of God’s eternal attributes. We can be confident that He will give salvation to anyone who comes to Him with an open, receiving heart. “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.” (John 1:12 AMP) We can also be confident that He will forgive any sins we have committed when we confess them to Him. “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].” (1 John 1:9 AMP) We can also be sure that God’s faithfulness will continue regardless of any actions on our part. “If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13 AMP) Many of God’s character attributes are clearly stated in Scripture. We can rely on these at all times.

If we try to draw a picture of who God is and believe that we know how and why He acts as He does, we will become disappointed. No one can know Almighty God that well except for His own Son, Jesus Christ. Our minds are not big enough to comprehend how God thinks and what determines His actions. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8AMP) We can rely on God’s faithfulness, but that still may not mean He will rescue us from every trial. He is faithful also to the character that He is building within us through trials. Because circumstances may be difficult and seem unfair does not mean that God is any less faithful than when we are experiencing a time of ease.

Just as I cannot be aware of everything that my husband David faces each day, we do not know everything that God sees. Decisions that David makes are based on all the facts that he has at the time. I do not always see everything that has gone in to a decision he has made. Likewise, with God, we do not have the entire picture. God sees the end from the beginning and from the east and to the west. He knows all the players that are involved and He knows all the prayers that had been prayed.

We must trust God in all circumstances. In hard times God has a plan to deliver. “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” (Romans 8:28 AMP) We will not always know the cause of the hardship. It can be sin, which God will reveal if we are open to him. It can be in the unseen realm such as Satan’s request to test Job. “Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job [reverently] fear God for nothing? Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face.” (Job 1:9-11 AMP) In this case the testing may have seemed like a punishment, yet after the trial came great blessing. Satan also requested to test Peter. “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain, But I have prayed especially for you [Peter], that your [own] faith may not fail; and when you yourself have turned again, strengthen and establish your brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32 AMP) After Peter was restored from the time of failing Jesus, he was able to bring restoration to many others. Any time of testing will end and we will be stronger for it when we trust God.

Spend time seeking to know more of God daily. Know that there will be unknown times in your lives. Trust God and all times.