Hope, Healing & Freedom Podcast: Episode 184
TRANSCRIPT
Have you ever walked into a room filled with familiar faces, yet no one seemed to recognize you, even though you had been in that place countless times before? In that moment, a wave of emotions may wash over you—loneliness, insignificance, and a profound sense of being unseen or undervalued. Now, imagine the contrast: you step into that same room, and instantly, someone spots you from across the way, rushing towards you with open arms. They envelop you in a warm hug and exclaim how deeply they’ve missed you. In that instant, you feel a rush of love, acceptance, and affirmation; you are reminded of your importance and your place within that community.
Today’s podcast invites you to explore the profound theme of what it means to be known by God and the transformative power of truly knowing Him.
I’m Cindi Whitman, and this is Restoring the Foundations. Together, we will journey into the depths of being known by God.
In life, we are known in different ways. We may be known by our reputation or the reputation of others. If you have older brothers or sisters, you may have had the experience of a teacher saying, “Oh you’re (siblings name) brother or sister. That statement comes with preconceived ideas of who you are and what kind of person you are. It sets up an expectation one way or the other. We want to be known for who we are not on preconceived ideas.
If you travel frequently, particularly across international borders, you may have acquired a Known Traveler number. This valuable number is obtained by going through a series of important steps: completing extensive paperwork, having your photograph taken and stored in a national database, verifying your identity through official means, and successfully passing a personal interview. Upon accomplishing all of these requirements, you receive a special Global Entry card displaying your Known Traveler number. When returning to the USA from adventures abroad, you can present this card, which acts like a passport, into a quicker re-entry process, allowing you to bypass long lines and be expedited through customs, thus alleviating the usual stress of returning home after a trip.
We often find ourselves being “known” in various social settings, including the grocery store, where friendly cashiers may recognize us due to our frequent visits. While they might remember our faces, they often don’t know our names or personal details. At work, our co-workers may know our names and some surface-level information about us, but their understanding may skim the surface rather than delve into who we truly are. Even at church, although you may be recognized by familiar faces every week, you might find that people know very little about your life story. Occasionally, someone might approach you and exclaim, “I know you!” but this recognition often stems from viewing you in RTF teaching videos rather than from an authentic connection.
When Lee and I tied the knot in 1979, I was confident we knew each other intimately. After dating for three significant years during college, we spent countless hours together discussing dreams and aspirations. Yet, looking back 46 years later, I’ve come to understand that, at that time, we truly knew very little about the intricate parts of each other’s lives. We were aware of each other’s preferences and dislikes, but we had not yet shared the deeper, more vulnerable pieces of our hearts.
To be truly known requires more than hours spent side by side; it demands meaningful connection through experiences shared over the years. It involves understanding each other’s likes, dislikes, core beliefs, and life goals. This deep understanding enables us to anticipate how our partner might react in various situations. It’s about fostering an environment of complete honesty, where we can express our thoughts and feelings without the fear of upsetting one another. Being known means being your authentic self and feeling accepted, loved, and chosen, even when you reveal your imperfections and vulnerabilities. This path can feel risky; we might worry, “If people discover the real me, will they turn away?” or “If I share my true feelings, will they become angry and leave me?” This journey requires courage, vulnerability, and time, cultivating a profound sense of intimacy. You cannot genuinely know someone through mere exposure over a few months or even a few years. It is through a rich tapestry of shared experiences—both joyous and challenging—that we truly come to know one another. After 46 years of marriage, filled with many ups and downs, I believe that Lee and I truly understand each other’s depths. Experiencing the comfort of being fully known, even on our best and worst days, while knowing that we will still be loved, accepted, and cherished, is indeed a rare and precious gift.
Today’s scripture reflects this beautiful truth found in 1 Corinthians 8:3: “But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” In the Amplified Bible, it says, “But if anyone loves God (with awe-filled reverence, obedience, and gratitude), he is known by Him (as His very own and is greatly loved).
What does it mean to be known by God? As I reflect on this concept, I find the idea of being known to be profoundly significant. The Hebrew word for “know” or “known” is ginosko, which signifies being known through experience. To be known is to find security; it means being understood, belonging, being loved, and being accepted. It can be challenging for us to fully grasp what it means to be known by God, as this experience is quite different from being known by another person.
Max Lucado expresses this beautifully, saying, “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning… Face it, friend. He is crazy about you.”
In Psalm 139, we see the profound nature of being known by God. I’m going to read verses 1-14 because it’s too wonderful to shorten.
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light becomes night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.”
He knows every secret you hold and every action you take, including the shadows of your past. His understanding encompasses the entirety of your being—your thoughts, emotions, and the nuances of your behavior. He can anticipate your words before they even cross your lips, as if reading the very fabric of your mind.
In every step you take, His protective presence surrounds you like a warm cloak, guiding you through life’s twists and turns. No matter where your journey leads, He remains steadfast by your side, a constant source of strength and reassurance. He will never abandon you, no matter the circumstances.
He is acutely aware of your vulnerabilities and shortcomings, seeing even the hidden corners of your heart where disobedient thoughts might dwell. There is no façade you can present that can conceal your true self from Him; He knows you more intimately than anyone else ever could. After all, He is your Creator—the artisan who fashioned you with distinctive brilliance. He chose the colors of your hair and eyes, mapped your physical stature, and wove together the intricate threads of your personality.
Before you ever existed, you were already part of His grand design, a mere thought in His infinite mind. His thoughts are boundlessly focused on you, a testament to His unwavering love and attention. He knows your deepest regrets, your biggest sins, your greatest fears, and yet He loves you unconditionally. He chooses you. You are adopted as His own. You are His son/daughter. You are His.
“If anyone loves God, he is known by Him.” If you are listening to this, there’s a good chance that you love God, and He knows you. There is nothing about you that He doesn’t understand. He knows the thoughts you keep to yourself, the actions you take when you believe no one is watching, your doubts and frustrations about life, and your moments of failure and disobedience. The truly amazing thing is that despite all of this, He still loves you, accepts you, and chooses you. His love is not based on your behavior; it is unconditional. There’s nothing you can do to make Him love you more, nor is there anything that can make Him love you less. He loves you no matter what.
There is profound comfort in understanding and truly knowing the truth about our relationship with God, shaped by our experiences. Each decision to embrace obedience brings us closer to Him, unveiling a deeper level of intimacy. Father God, Yahweh, is known by many names, and each name reflects a unique facet of His divine character. For instance, to know Him as Jehovah-Jireh, “The Lord Who Provides,” is to undergo a season of need, where His faithful provision becomes an undeniable reality. Likewise, encountering Him as Jehovah Nacham (יְהוָה נָחַם), meaning “The Lord My Comforter,” occurs in moments of pain when we seek solace. Every new experience in our journey with God opens doors to deeper knowledge of Him, and it is often through the most challenging moments that we discover the richness of His presence.
I vividly recall a pivotal season in our lives when we truly came to understand God as Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider. In 2010, the Lord stirred within us a calling to further our training in Restoring the Foundations Ministry. Earlier that same year, we had received training in Issue-Focused Ministry, but now we felt the gentle yet insistent push to delve deeper into Thorough Format Ministry training. However, this was no simple endeavor; we were already on a journey of radical obedience, having stepped away from our steady ministry positions, which resulted in the loss of our regular income. The weight of our dwindling savings loomed heavily over us, and the thought of financing our training felt overwhelmingly daunting as we struggled to manage our monthly bills.
In the spirit of our obedience journey, we confided in a close circle of friends about our situation. One of our prophetic friends, sensing the urgency of our need, looked Lee squarely in the eyes and declared, “You need to contact RTF today!” Although we hadn’t shared our financial struggles, his words pierced through our doubts, compelling us to reach out to the RTF Director of Training. We shared openly, “We believe God has called us to the next level of training, but we simply don’t have the money.” In response, he stated, “While it’s past the application deadline, I’ll allow you two weeks, but you must present the funds.”
At that time, the RTF training took place in North Carolina, requiring us to live on-site for several weeks. The costs were considerable, significantly higher than today, and the thought of balancing our bills at home added to our anxiety. How were we to find the needed funds amid our financial strain? For fourteen days, we boldly declared, “God, if You are indeed calling us to this training, then You must provide for us to go.” Each day, Lee made the journey to the PO box, hoping for a financial miracle. During the first thirteen days, he returned with nothing but advertisements and junk mail. Yet, on the fourteenth day, an envelope awaited him—one that contained a check for $10,000 from friends who had never before contributed to our cause. This was the miracle we had been praying for, the tangible proof of God’s provision that propelled us into our training.
We experienced God in a profoundly personal way, realizing He is our Provider. He moved in hearts far beyond our understanding to make this possible, and His faithfulness has continued to sustain us and our ministry with RTF. Without confronting that financial challenge, we would never have come to know Him as Jehovah-Jireh.
To someone listening, I want to encourage you. God has called you to a purpose, perhaps to attend RTF training, embark on a mission trip, or launch a new business. If financial resources feel out of reach, trust Him. Speak forth His promise of provision and watch what unfolds. If this is truly His will, He will open the floodgates of provision, and through this journey, you will deepen your relationship with Him as your faithful Provider.
In this podcast, I made a pivotal shift from simply being known by God to the transformative journey of knowing Him on a personal level. He is intimately aware of you because He is the very Creator who fashioned you with purpose and love. You come to know Him deeply by consistently choosing to cultivate a relationship with Him. His love for you is boundless and unconditional, yet your experiences of His presence and character flourish as you dedicate time to Him. This might mean worshiping Him even when you’re feeling distant or overwhelmed, or turning to Him for guidance and solace amid life’s tumultuous moments. Embracing this relationship is truly an adventure of a lifetime!
Now, let me ask you some questions: What is your current need? Do you seek to know God as your provider, the one who nourishes and fulfills your every requirement? Do you yearn to experience Him as the God of all comfort, a soothing presence in times of distress? Perhaps you are in search of Him as your refuge, offering safety and peace, or as your protector, shielding you from harm. No matter the nature of your needs, He is the answer you are looking for. While He already knows what you are facing, He desires for you to express your thoughts and feelings to Him. He is here to meet you in your present circumstances, ready to support and guide you.
PRAYER
Father God, thank you that we are known by you. You love us, accept us, and you choose us to be your son or your daughter. Your love is unconditional and never-ending. I delight in knowing, by experience, that I am known by you. Help me to bask in the comfort, security, and identity of being yours. Amen!
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