As we continue our exploration of anxiety and faith, I want to dive deep into one of God's attributes that can profoundly impact how we handle our worries: His omniscience. In our last discussion, we established that God's character is the ultimate antidote to anxiety. Today, we'll unpack what it means that God is all-knowing and how this truth can bring comfort to our anxious hearts.
Understanding God's Omniscience
Before we delve into the personal implications of God's omniscience, let's define what we mean by this term. Omniscience comes from the Latin words "omnis" (all) and "scientia" (knowledge). Simply put, God knows everything - perfectly and exhaustively. He doesn't know one thing better than another; He knows all things equally well.
This concept might seem abstract at first, but understanding the immensity of God's knowledge is crucial to appreciating its intimacy in our lives.
The Immensity of God's Knowledge
To grasp how vast God's knowledge is, consider these facts:
- Nature: There are approximately one septillion stars in the universe (that's a 1 with 24 zeros!). Psalm 147 tells us that God not only placed each star, but He calls them all by name.
- Nations: There are 17,313 distinct people groups in the world, each with its own language, culture, and political structure. God is equally aware of what's happening in each of these groups.
- Individual Lives: God is intimately acquainted with every aspect of each person's life, from the mightiest ruler to the most obscure individual.
Understanding this immensity helps us appreciate just how remarkable it is that this same God is deeply mindful of us personally.
The Intimacy of God's Omniscience
Now, let's explore how God's all-encompassing knowledge applies to us individually. Psalm 139 offers a beautiful exposition of this truth.
1. God Knows You Fundamentally
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me" (Psalm 139:1). God doesn't just know about you; He knows you. Like a skilled archaeologist or spy, He has observed every hidden nook and cranny of your heart. You're not just one of 8 billion people to God; He knows you as if you were the only person on Earth.
2. God Knows Your Actions
"You know when I sit down and when I rise up" (Psalm 139:2). This is a merism, a figure of speech that includes everything between two extremes. In other words, God knows everything you do, from the most significant to the most mundane.
3. God Knows Your Heart
"Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether" (Psalm 139:4). God doesn't need to hear our words to understand us; He reads our hearts. This means we never need to fear being misunderstood by God.
4. God Knows Your Needs
"You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me" (Psalm 139:5). God's hand upon us is not restrictive but protective and providing. As Philippians 4:19 assures us, our God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
5. God Knows Us in the Dark
"Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you" (Psalm 139:12). When we feel shrouded in darkness - whether literal or metaphorical - God sees us clearly. We're never hidden from His loving gaze.
6. God Knows Our Frame
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13). God knew you before you were born, and He knows your constitution intimately. This truth can be particularly comforting when we struggle with insecurity or identity issues.
7. God Knows Our Days
"In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139:16). God knows the exact number of our days. This doesn't mean we should be reckless, but it does mean we can trust Him with our future.
Responding to God's Omniscience
Understanding God's omniscience should evoke several responses in us:
- Doxology: Like David in Psalm 139, we should burst forth in praise. The fact that the God who knows everything in existence also knows us intimately is truly awe-inspiring.
- Security: Knowing that God is always aware of us and our circumstances provides a deep sense of security. As David says, "When I awake, I am still with you" (Psalm 139:18).
- Freedom: Understanding God's omniscience frees us from trying to be God ourselves. We don't need to have all the answers; we can rest in the fact that God does.
- Trust: Even when our lives seem shrouded in darkness, we can trust that our omniscient God will eventually bring clarity out of confusion and light into darkness.
The Practical Impact on Anxiety
So, how does all this relate to anxiety? When we're anxious, we often feel isolated, misunderstood, or overwhelmed by circumstances we can't control. But God's omniscience assures us that:
- We're never truly alone or misunderstood. God knows us more intimately than we know ourselves.
- Our needs are known and will be met. God is aware of every detail of our lives.
- Even in our darkest moments, we're seen and known by God.
- Our future, though unknown to us, is securely in God's hands.
As J.I. Packer beautifully puts it in "Knowing God":
"There is tremendous relief in knowing that His love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion Him about me, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, and quench His determination to bless me."
Conclusion: Resting in God's Knowledge
Understanding God's omniscience doesn't magically make our anxieties disappear. But it does provide a solid foundation on which we can stand when anxiety threatens to overwhelm us. We can rest in the knowledge that the God who knows every star by name also knows the deepest concerns of our hearts.
As we continue this journey of exploring God's character and its impact on our anxiety, I encourage you to meditate on these truths. Let the reality of God's intimate knowledge of you sink deep into your soul. In those moments when anxiety creeps in, remind yourself: "I am known, I am seen, I am loved by the God who knows all things."
In our next discussion, we'll explore another attribute of God and how it relates to our struggle with anxiety. Until then, may you find peace in the arms of our all-knowing Father.
