Finding comfort in the Scripture’s promise: Someone knows our name!
By Dean Collins
“Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.”
That’s what the familiar Cheers theme suggested. But sometimes the journey is tough and you don’t really feel like going anyplace, especially not someplace where everyone knows your name. While some may seek a crowd when times are hard, many prefer to skip the crowd altogether and stay in solitude.
But wherever we go, God knows us. Consider the prophet Jeremiah's opening words as he brings God’s message to his people: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” In other words, “Before you had a name, I knew you.” Consider the implications of this thought. God knew your parents before they were born, and your grandparents, and your great great great grandparents. God has known us since the beginning when he first breathed life into Adam’s nostrils. You and I are not accidents. We are not unknown. And whatever you are going through, you will never be forsaken or forgotten by our loving and almighty Father in Heaven. He knows your name.
Tough assignment
God gave Jeremiah a very tough assignment, apparently one he was born to do. Jeremiah was called to tell God’s beloved that they had rejected God. How would you like the job of telling all the people of faith in your generation that they were acting in rebellion with God and would face the consequences if they didn’t repent?
Jeremiah was known as the “weeping prophet.” His heart was tender toward God, and his assignment brought him significant hardship. Sometimes our assignments come with great difficulty, and as with Jeremiah, they may bring us moments of sadness, physical pain, or emotional distress. Jeremiah’s assignment, the thing he was born to do, was to proclaim God’s message without fear of any consequences.
But his message brings us hope, and he is not the only one to encourage us today. The prophet Isaiah also indicated that God knew all his children by name: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, and you are mine.” In Psalm 139, the psalmist tells us that God knew us even in our mother’s womb and that we were fearfully and wonderfully made. God has known us from the beginning of time. He created us in his image, and each of us is a marvel. He knows not only our names but also the very hairs on our heads. And no matter how hard our journey, he promises to go with us and support us as we do his kingdom work.
Sure knowledge
If all of this is true, and it is, then God knows exactly what you and I are going through in the given moment. The cancer, the financial situation, the grief, the stress. God is neither surprised nor unprepared to assist us in our time of difficulty.
All throughout Scripture we are told not to be fearful or anxious because God knows we often will need this reminder. We are not alone! Everyone around you may not know your name, but God does. And while being with other people who know us and love us is helpful, our strength is found in God. He will meet us in the silence. He will receive our tears as worship. He will sustain us and strengthen us when we go to him with hands lifted up and offer the simple prayer, “Help me, Lord.”
He will meet us in the silence. He will receive our tears as worship.
The good news of the gospel lends perspective. Because of Jesus we are forgiven, transformed, and brought into eternal life. Eternal life has already started. It may still include seasons of pain and suffering, but these seasons do not endure into eternity. And because we are named and known children of the king, we are assured that the work we do will result in our being used to advance God’s kingdom and bring God glory. Our suffering is also redeemed.
Jeremiah was a truth teller but his message of hope was and is real and lasting. God does have a plan for the welfare of all of his children and all of creation. And in his plan, he will never abandon us. He will walk with us through every difficulty, even until we meet him throughout the rest of our eternal life lived ou with him in Heaven.
Father, it is comforting to realize that you know us by name and we can walk through this life on mission, even in times of suffering. We surrender our circumstances to you and ask you to redeem them and use them to bring another person into life in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Jeremiah 1:4-10; Isaiah 43:1 ESV
Photo by Ioana Cristiana on Unsplash
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