God knows everything—past, present, and future—and nothing takes Him by surprise.
When we stumble and sin, it helps to remember that God is merciful. When we recognize that we have, once again, turned aside to idols of our own making, there are scriptures that declare God’s faithfulness in spite of our frailty. And when we have been burned by some injustice—life-shattering or trivial—we can thank our Savior for being a righteous Judge who promises to set all things right in the end. Reflecting on God’s attributes can bring us peace in the midst of struggles. But there is one that can leave us feeling exposed: God’s omniscience.
Because He is all-knowing, there is nothing hidden from God’s sight—nothing in waking life or even in our imaginations. There is no event in the past, present, or future that takes Him by surprise. The entire universe is an open book.
This kind of knowledge in anyone else’s hands would be a dangerous weapon. It would be appropriate to live in a constant state of fear. But God’s omniscience is coupled with His other attributes. To be known by God, then, is to be valued and loved. None of us are here by mistake. He wants to know us. And that’s a very good thing; within each of us is a desire to be known.
We all want to be fully known and understood, and then to be fully loved. Of course, we too often conclude in our hearts we are unloveable. After all, we how we’ve done wrong and missed the mark, how easily we’ve given in to temptation. Our hearts condemn us daily. But “God is greater than our hearts, and he knows all things” (1 John 3:20).
On the day of Solomon’s coronation, David told his son, “The LORD searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought” (1 Chronicles 28:9). In these words, there is a warning, but there is also grace. True, there is no hiding from God. But there also isn’t anyone who could possibly know us better. Because Jesus dealt with our sin on the cross, purifying us as a bride for her husband, God’s omniscience is not reason to fear blanket condemnation; instead, it’s an invitation to true intimacy with our Maker.
God knows everything. He understands the past. He sees the present. He knows what the future holds. Nothing is hidden from Him. Nothing is beyond Him. He knows me. He sees my heart. He knows my thoughts. My struggles and fears, temptations and failures, desires and motives. He sees and knows all of it. And He still pursues me. And draws me back. Again and again. I can never understand this! He should reject me if He knows me. But no, He is my Father and He calls me ever onward.
Betty,
It’s never easy for me. I got all my peeps to pray for/with me. And I used a discipline I found in Richard Foster’s book, CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE called palms down, palms up. I turn over any concerns I have to God – fear of not hearing him, worry that I’ll be wrong, frustration with my littles, all the things that scream loud in my mind with my palms down. And then after a few minutes, I turn my palms up and receive the inverse of all the other stuff – God WILL speak to me because he loves to and I will hear because his sheep hear his voice, perfect love casts out fear…and it usually helps me still enough to hear. Or to at least rest a bit in stillness. I prayed for you that you will hear the direction you’re needing to hear.
Thank you so much Cecelia! Going to look into this book. Please let me know if there’s anything I can pray for you too ❤️
God know every thought before I’ve even thought it up. Both the good and wicked thoughts. And while I am responsible for harnessing those thoughts that aren’t from Him, I am comforted by the knowledge that He offers abounding grace.
Reading Attributes of God bring a real presence of God as I read these. Like a Meditation of Peace. Loving it
Prayers lifted! Smart lady on the advice about housework
I love the idea of God’s omniscience being the source of us being fully known and fully loved and fully provided for. I always though of God’s omniscience as an indicator of his power as “the big man in the sky.” – which it is. But it’s more than that. God’s omniscience is an indicator of His humility, sacrifice, and mercy- an indicator of his willingness to weave Himself so completely into our lives and our stories. Wow wow wow.
i’ve been reading along with this plan in the physical study guide but felt compelled to look at the community comments online today. kathy, i am keeping you in my prayers, i hope your family finds peace and comfort in this difficult time. i am glad your mother was able to enter new life surrounded by her loved ones <3
Cecelia – wow your comment came in perfect timing. I have been offered a job position with the school board, but it is not something I want to do. However, I felt like it was God leading me there. Like you, I kept asking Him “what’s the right choice” because I want to please God so bad, yet I don’t feel satisfied with this job?
Can you share with me how you got your mind to be still and heard God say “what do you want to do?”. Thank you <3