Does God Really Know Me?
In times of sorrow, loss, total failures and unrealized dreams. In times of frustration, loneliness,
depression and dejection, one is often brought to ask a question- does God really know me?
depression and dejection, one is often brought to ask a question- does God really know me?
If he did, how could this be happening? It is one of the most fundamental questions
to anyone's faith, and lies at the heart and soul of the strength necessary to overcome
challenges and setbacks. Armed with this knowledge, there is no voyage of mortality that
can't be navigated. Without it every ship will sink, eventually coming off course amidst the the
many certain storms that will beset us in life.
to anyone's faith, and lies at the heart and soul of the strength necessary to overcome
challenges and setbacks. Armed with this knowledge, there is no voyage of mortality that
can't be navigated. Without it every ship will sink, eventually coming off course amidst the the
many certain storms that will beset us in life.
Truly, if we can answer this one question for ourselves, and then remember that answer at all
times and in all things and all places, we will one day come forth triumphant to return to live with
him, receiving all that he hath, crowned with eternal glory.
times and in all things and all places, we will one day come forth triumphant to return to live with
him, receiving all that he hath, crowned with eternal glory.
So how may we go about answering this most important question? I would like to share a few
thoughts on how I have come to the answer, in hopes to help even just one of you come to,
recognize, and remember an answer for yourselves.
thoughts on how I have come to the answer, in hopes to help even just one of you come to,
recognize, and remember an answer for yourselves.
First I would like to start out by saying God works by Faith. “For [God] worketh by power,
according to the faith of the children of men.” (Moroni 10:7) “Ye receive no witness until after the
trial of your faith.” (Ether 12:6) Naaman was not healed until he dipped in the river Jordan 7 times.
The blind man was not healed until he went and washed his eyes in the pool of shalom. Christ's
atonement wasn't complete until he submitted himself below all things. There is a pattern, and I
have found this to be true in my own life, we must walk by faith before we see the light. We must
go beyond our comfort limit, trusting that God will deliver that which he has promised.
according to the faith of the children of men.” (Moroni 10:7) “Ye receive no witness until after the
trial of your faith.” (Ether 12:6) Naaman was not healed until he dipped in the river Jordan 7 times.
The blind man was not healed until he went and washed his eyes in the pool of shalom. Christ's
atonement wasn't complete until he submitted himself below all things. There is a pattern, and I
have found this to be true in my own life, we must walk by faith before we see the light. We must
go beyond our comfort limit, trusting that God will deliver that which he has promised.
In all of my experience, the miracle, the witness, the divine revelation comes after we have submitted
ourselves to him. If we are willing to do that, to exercise a little faith, “to be patient, humble,
long-suffering, submitting even as a child submits to his father,” we will come to find the Lord
knows us very well. He is kind and loving, involved in the intricate details of our lives. He never
fails, it is an equation- show faith, and he will reveal himself. That is how we answer our question.
Does God really know me? Show faith, and you'll find out.
ourselves to him. If we are willing to do that, to exercise a little faith, “to be patient, humble,
long-suffering, submitting even as a child submits to his father,” we will come to find the Lord
knows us very well. He is kind and loving, involved in the intricate details of our lives. He never
fails, it is an equation- show faith, and he will reveal himself. That is how we answer our question.
Does God really know me? Show faith, and you'll find out.
Now some of you might be saying, well that's not fair. It's backwards, first I must know God is
there, and then I will do what he says. This is not according to his word, “Faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) “If any man will do his will, he
shall know of the doctrine.” (John 7:17) And why must it be this way? Can you imagine how
backwards things would be if it was the other way around? We would all be robots, all doing
the same thing, never deviating and never learning. If everybody knew every answer on the
SAT would anybody ever take the test? If we knew the winner of every sporting contest, would
we ever endeavor to play? Knowing of God's existence without faith would defeat the purpose of
life, we no longer would have choice, we no longer would learn anything of consequence, we no
longer would experience any growth or change, we no longer could truly show love for our maker.
No, to have knowledge before action is backwards according to the justice of God, and any
sort of sound logic. We must act first, and then knowledge will come as a fruit of that action.
there, and then I will do what he says. This is not according to his word, “Faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) “If any man will do his will, he
shall know of the doctrine.” (John 7:17) And why must it be this way? Can you imagine how
backwards things would be if it was the other way around? We would all be robots, all doing
the same thing, never deviating and never learning. If everybody knew every answer on the
SAT would anybody ever take the test? If we knew the winner of every sporting contest, would
we ever endeavor to play? Knowing of God's existence without faith would defeat the purpose of
life, we no longer would have choice, we no longer would learn anything of consequence, we no
longer would experience any growth or change, we no longer could truly show love for our maker.
No, to have knowledge before action is backwards according to the justice of God, and any
sort of sound logic. We must act first, and then knowledge will come as a fruit of that action.
I have experienced this many times, many of the experiences are too sacred to share. Experiences
where I was stretched and strained to my very core. My very being was brought to the reckoning
and I was forced to choose, him, or my own pride. I would submit those are the most meaningful
pieces of knowledge I have gained, and the types of experiences that each of us must go through to
become the people God wants us to be. To come to know him in the most intimate light we must
stretch ourselves beyond where we have ever gone before.
where I was stretched and strained to my very core. My very being was brought to the reckoning
and I was forced to choose, him, or my own pride. I would submit those are the most meaningful
pieces of knowledge I have gained, and the types of experiences that each of us must go through to
become the people God wants us to be. To come to know him in the most intimate light we must
stretch ourselves beyond where we have ever gone before.
One experience I will share is that of my call to serve a mission in the great country of the UK.
I had prayed my whole life to go to China. Surely the Lord had heard my prayers. I also had desires
to learn a language. So what was this English speaking country on the exact opposite side of the
globe from China? Did he know me? Did he care? Had I disappointed him? Had he heard my prayers?
I wasn't sure But I decided to serve him faithfully with all my might, and let the answers come.
I had been out for about 10 months, being pushed the whole time. Often times being brought to
ask, does he know me? Does he care? A long the way I had many small experiences exercising the
before mentioned equation, show faith and see him revealed. At ten months I was transferred to a
new area, I was deeply involved in the work and had lost myself in what I was doing. In that area I
found myself teaching expatriate students more and more often from where? No other than China.
Eventually they became all we would teach. All day everyday I would go from house to house
teaching Chinese expatriate students, that had come to the UK for graduate work. At first what
was happening didn't occur to me because I had lost myself in the work, but one day, when there
were about 7 Chinese students at church, I realized with also the tender feelings of my soul
That God knew me. He absolutely knew me. All those prayers I had bore all those many years
hadn't gone unheard. He loved me and he cared. And he gave me just the experiences I needed to
learn and grow and come to know him in a deeply intimate way. The England Birmingham Mission
was exactly the perfect place for me. I cannot put into words how I feel about what I learned there.
There are many missions around the world, and they are all great, but I could not have learned what
I needed to anywhere else. It was perfect in every way. God knows me. This is one of the many
experiences I have that illustrated that fact to me.
I had prayed my whole life to go to China. Surely the Lord had heard my prayers. I also had desires
to learn a language. So what was this English speaking country on the exact opposite side of the
globe from China? Did he know me? Did he care? Had I disappointed him? Had he heard my prayers?
I wasn't sure But I decided to serve him faithfully with all my might, and let the answers come.
I had been out for about 10 months, being pushed the whole time. Often times being brought to
ask, does he know me? Does he care? A long the way I had many small experiences exercising the
before mentioned equation, show faith and see him revealed. At ten months I was transferred to a
new area, I was deeply involved in the work and had lost myself in what I was doing. In that area I
found myself teaching expatriate students more and more often from where? No other than China.
Eventually they became all we would teach. All day everyday I would go from house to house
teaching Chinese expatriate students, that had come to the UK for graduate work. At first what
was happening didn't occur to me because I had lost myself in the work, but one day, when there
were about 7 Chinese students at church, I realized with also the tender feelings of my soul
That God knew me. He absolutely knew me. All those prayers I had bore all those many years
hadn't gone unheard. He loved me and he cared. And he gave me just the experiences I needed to
learn and grow and come to know him in a deeply intimate way. The England Birmingham Mission
was exactly the perfect place for me. I cannot put into words how I feel about what I learned there.
There are many missions around the world, and they are all great, but I could not have learned what
I needed to anywhere else. It was perfect in every way. God knows me. This is one of the many
experiences I have that illustrated that fact to me.
Now this is a pretty vivid example, and like I said, I had many smaller experiences along the way that
helped me to recognize his hand in my life. Recognizing the answers he sends is not always the
easiest, but as you grow attuned to the spirit, it will become easier and even familiar.
helped me to recognize his hand in my life. Recognizing the answers he sends is not always the
easiest, but as you grow attuned to the spirit, it will become easier and even familiar.
Again, the formula is simple. Pray, ask for guidance, search the heart of the Lord, follow the answer
to that prayer(sometimes that's just what we feel is best, and we trust he would have told us otherwise
if needs be), and trust that he's guiding you. Then, have moments of self reflection, reflect on the path
you've chosen, ponder on what you felt was the answer to your prayer, trust he answers prayers and
that what you did was in line with his will. In those moments of reflection an answer will come, you will
feel the spirit if the Lord, and he will teach you something very personal to you. I promise he hears
and answers prayers and he will teach you as you are diligent in following them.
to that prayer(sometimes that's just what we feel is best, and we trust he would have told us otherwise
if needs be), and trust that he's guiding you. Then, have moments of self reflection, reflect on the path
you've chosen, ponder on what you felt was the answer to your prayer, trust he answers prayers and
that what you did was in line with his will. In those moments of reflection an answer will come, you will
feel the spirit if the Lord, and he will teach you something very personal to you. I promise he hears
and answers prayers and he will teach you as you are diligent in following them.
Feeling the spirit is exactly what it sounds like. It's a feeling. A feeling that is soft, yet at the same
time overpowering. “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance.” (Galatians 5:22-23) “A great and strong wind rent the mountains,
and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind
an earthquake; but not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in
the fire: And after the fire a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:12) The Lord was in the still small voice.
time overpowering. “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance.” (Galatians 5:22-23) “A great and strong wind rent the mountains,
and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind
an earthquake; but not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in
the fire: And after the fire a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:12) The Lord was in the still small voice.
The experience is often times very subtle, but in this lies God’s genius. The Purpose of this life is to
learn and to grow, to stretch and to become more like our father in Heaven. What would life be like
if God was heavy handed with us all of the time? Life would become dull, there'd be no suspense,
no sense of wonder or awe, there'd be no faith. The beauty of life is our choice, therefore we must
choose to remember. We must choose to act and then choose to remember. It is our choice, and we
have way more control over this than we may think. We choose to remember by our actions. We
choose to remember by our devotion. I have had wonderful experiences, in those moments I was
touched so deeply by the hand of God that I wanted to shout on the roof tops. A week later did I feel
the same? A month later did I? How about 6? No. No I didn't. But, the next day did I study my
scriptures and say my prayers as he asked me to? Did I serve my fellow man?
learn and to grow, to stretch and to become more like our father in Heaven. What would life be like
if God was heavy handed with us all of the time? Life would become dull, there'd be no suspense,
no sense of wonder or awe, there'd be no faith. The beauty of life is our choice, therefore we must
choose to remember. We must choose to act and then choose to remember. It is our choice, and we
have way more control over this than we may think. We choose to remember by our actions. We
choose to remember by our devotion. I have had wonderful experiences, in those moments I was
touched so deeply by the hand of God that I wanted to shout on the roof tops. A week later did I feel
the same? A month later did I? How about 6? No. No I didn't. But, the next day did I study my
scriptures and say my prayers as he asked me to? Did I serve my fellow man?
God's plan is beautiful. It is impossible without agency. Faith and Agency go hand in hand.
I testify with all my heart that God does know us, he cares deeply about us and he will reveal it to us,
as we show faith. I implore all to put him to the test, show a little faith, and you will see He his your
Lord and your God, My father and yours.
I testify with all my heart that God does know us, he cares deeply about us and he will reveal it to us,
as we show faith. I implore all to put him to the test, show a little faith, and you will see He his your
Lord and your God, My father and yours.
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