God Knows

“Remember this and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:8-11.

In 1977, I gave my life to Christ and became a Christian. Before then, I was going through very difficult times which caused me to become very unhappy and questioning the reality of Christianity. I knew what was right, but I chose not to walk that road. When I joined the Air Force, I became friends with two men who both drank and smoked marijuana, which then got me started with both. I did this simply to have friends. I had no others, and my time in school from elementary through high school convinced me close friendships were for others, but not for me. I did some really stupid things after joining the Air Force, some which were illegal, which could have brought me a dishonorable discharge. Things were going downhill quickly. At my lowest point, when I was turned in for drug usage, I was alone in my room and began thinking about God. I did not necessarily believe in Him, but as I was sitting there, I began thinking about what I had been taught as a child. None of it seemed real, however, I had nothing else. So I prayed, in anger. “God, if you are real, you will have to show me, because right now I am not so sure.” He then showed me: that night, at that very moment. Joy filled my very being, which is something I can say I never experienced before. My life changed right then, when I accepted Him as savior, and I have never looked back.

I could tell you story after story of what God has done to prove His reality to me. It blows my mind when I look back on all He has done. However, what I want to focus on now is that God knew what I would do long before I was born, and this is true for everyone. 

The fact God knows everything is extremely essential for us to understand. He is all knowing from eternity past to eternity future and does not react to anything we do or experience because reacting to something entails a level of surprise. Moreover, because He knows all we have done, are currently doing and ever will do, He never needs to alter His plans. He knows what we will ask Him long before we get around to asking, and His answer is always better than ours could be. If He says yes, it is because this is the best answer. And if He says no, it is because it could ultimately be detrimental to us and others. We need to think this way because we truly have no idea what is best, even if we think we do. However God, who knows the end from the beginning and has infinite knowledge and love for us, does. He understands all things, and we need to trust Him over our own limited and biased ideas.

Another important concept to remember is sometimes trials are what God sees as tools to help us. These are moments where we learn to trust and follow Him closely as He brings us through these trials. Each time He brings us through will help us rely on Him rather than ourselves. Also, these times could be what God sees as best for others, not necessarily for us. Seeing how we come through difficulties with peace and total trust in God can encourage others through their times of struggling. Maybe, God is preparing us to understand and help others through their hardships. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.

What a beautiful passage. God comforts us in our afflictions so we may join Him in comforting others. Through our times of trials, He uses us to help our brothers and sisters in Christ through theirs.

Why did I go through a childhood of incessant bullying and humiliation?  Why did God wait to reveal Himself to me until after I had gone through so much pain? Because He knew it would help me and others I would come into contact with. I know what it is like to be ostracized by kids and adults because they thought I was too strange or weird. I know what it is to struggle with my belief in God leading me to a sinful and ungodly lifestyle. And I also know how God will reach out at the perfect time to reveal Himself to those whose hearts are broken and ready for healing. God has led me to so many who have or are experiencing the same things I have. He has shown me how to comfort them in their pain. And God may be doing this work in you as well. Trust Him not only to bring you through, but also to prepare you for times where you will bring encouragement and solace to others who are hurting.

In closing, the Book of Romans points out how we should look at the things we experience throughout our life.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.

God knows what we are going through and knew from the beginning of time what we would experience. He also knew all we would do, as well as all we would refuse to do. It is no surprise to Him what we do or experience. And He also knew if and when we would come to Him as our savior. We must realize no matter what we as Christians go through, it will work out for good, either for us or another, because our loving Heavenly Father guarantees it. Trust Him, He has never let us down in the past or present and will never disappoint us from now throughout eternity.