But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1

God knows me. This is what God spoke to my heart at church on Sunday morning.  My husband had to work unexpectedly, so it was just the kids and I who went to church. Seeing that we just moved to the area, this was only our second time at this particular church. And I was struggling a bit–struggling with the familiar feeling that comes when one moves to a new place: the feeling of missing what once was. I wouldn’t want to call it home sick, because I fully believe I am home right where I am; so I will call it “old home” sick. I missed my friends. I missed going to church and smiling at people I know–people who know me and whom I know and with whom I have connected on a personal level.  I missed the genuine hugs of friendship and support.  I missed the familiarity of it all.

 I missed being known.

I actually e-mailed this request to my mentor before getting ready for church.  I asked her to pray for this yearning.  My exact words:  “I want someone to know me.”

Of course, as I have learned throughout my recent journey, oftentimes what appears to be a pitfall–a disappointment–a downer–is often merely an opportunity for God to draw me into His presence, to draw me closer to Him.   And draw me is what He did.

For as I sat in church by myself, surrounded by people who did not know me and who would not miss me if I never returned–God reminded me of the above verse. He spoke clearly to my heart:  “I know you.”

Yes!  God knows me! He calls me by name.  I am His.  I didn’t go to church to see people; I went to worship God, to see God.  And God knows me!  God knew I was there.  God noticed me there.  God was glad I was there.  And He would have missed me if I had not shown up.   As Isaiah 49:15 reminds us, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”

God doesn’t forget.  He doesn’t forget my face.  He doesn’t forget my name.  He doesn’t forget me.  God knows me.

God knows you, too.   I want to encourage you in this today   God knows you.  He truly knows you.  Read the words of Psalm 139 with me:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
² You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
³ You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
⁵ You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.

Psalm 139:16

Did you catch that?  God has searched you–all of you.  And God knows you.   He knows your every move, your every thought, your every word.  He knows you more than you know yourself!

You are known, my friend!

Even more, you are known by the God of the universe!

God knows you!

He knows you, He loves you,  and He wants to be with you–in this moment, during this day, and throughout eternity.  So rest in His love right now as you re-read Isaiah 43:1 with me.  Personalize it as you read:

Thus I the Lord say to you, _____
I who created you,
    I who formed you:
“Fear not, _____, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.”

You are God’s.

 I repeat.  You are God’s! Whether you are by yourself or surrounded by people–whether you are well known or unknown in the world’s eyes–God knows you.  Rejoice with me today in this truth.  God knows you.