We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know

We don’t know what we don’t know. Selah.

In our last devotion, we discussed how that trusting our feelings alone will not lead us to TRUTH. There’s so much we don’t know. Which is better … for something to FEEL true, or for something to BE true? For those who say, “I don’t know! I’ll just follow my heart!” Jeremiah cautioned: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” … so, does the heart make for a good guide?  True faith is not what you FEEL; it’s what (and Whom) you KNOW. Rather than “feeling” our way through life, it is far better to KNOW the ONE Who IS the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.

In our emotional ignorance, like children, we continually ask for mercy—not judgment. We think that mercy would FEEL better than judgment. But there are some situations where God’s judgment is kinder than His mercy. Sometimes because of what He KNOWS, He allows things in our lives—suffering, pain, trials—to grow virtues in us that He KNOWS we need. Suffering produces long suffering—pain develops patience—trials build deeper trust.

We should not be wary of God’s “judgment.” His judgment of our character doesn’t necessarily mean a negative result. If, in His perfect knowledge, He “judges” us and finds us worthy of polishing—if He sees an area in our life that would be perfected through suffering, isn’t that better for us than unmerited mercy? Shouldn’t we trust His judgment that it’s for our ultimate good?

“I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.” (Psalm 101:1. KJV)

It’s true: we don’t even know what we don’t know.  But God KNOWS it ALL—and here’s the amazing thing: we CAN know HIM!  If we don’t know HIM, then we don’t yet know that He can HELP us, HEAL us, and SAVE us!

When we feel invisible, GOD sees us. When we feel misunderstood, GOD understands us. When we feel nameless, obscure and insignificant, GOD knows us, He knows our name, and He knows our need. When we don’t feel He’s heard us, He HAS! He’s already working, and He has resources that we don’t know anything about. When we look at our prospects and say, “There’s just NO WAY.” Remember, Jesus said, “I AM … THE WAY!”

Our life on earth is but one short musical measure in the timeless symphony that God is orchestrating! Like the tip of the proverbial iceberg, what He KNOWS is immeasurably bigger than what we FEEL or comprehend at our “SEE level.” What we don’t know CAN hurt us, yes, but there is nothing unknown to God.  If we KNOW HIM—if our trust is in HIM—if we are fully enveloped in HIM—that is truly enough to cover whatever we don’t FEEL or KNOW!

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”  (Romans 11:33. NKJV)

Prayer:  Dear LORD, I will not fret! Rather, I will focus on YOU—the One who KNOWS my past, present, and future. Even if I don’t know or understand everything, THIS I KNOW: YOU DO! Your Word declares: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”  (Isaiah 26:3 KJV)