A few months ago a friend sent me a scripture that changed my perspective on how God views me. She sent me the verse Jeremiah 1:5, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

I kept getting stuck on the first three words, “I knew you.” I reflected on the reality that BEFORE I was formed in my mother’s womb, I was already known by God. WOW.  To think all those years that I felt alone, unseen, and lost God had been there the entire time. He knew before I was even born the good and poor decisions I would make. He knew there would be a time in my life I would reject him and then eventually accept him. He knew me and yet still chose me.

There is something powerful about understanding that you are known.  When I consider the thought of ‘being known’ a few things come to mind, such as feeling seen, understood and accepted. Imagine, a generation of woman who walk confidently as a result of understanding that they are known by their Heavenly Father. Who don’t find their confidence in being applauded by people, their looks or what they can do. Simply resting in being known by the only one that really matters.

This revelation freed me.  I read this scripture everyday for 2 months and spoke it over myself daily. Eventually it rooted.  This revelation of being known by my God brought me to a place as a young woman that I have never been before. To be honest, I struggled with finding my value in affirmation and validation from people. How I valued myself was determined by how people expressed their value of me for too long. It was exhausting.

Once my eyes were open to how God had seen me all along, a new confidence in Christ stepped in. A confidence that no thing, person or applause has ever given me. It was not temporary, unfulfilling or fleeing.  When I came to this newfound confidence I sat with my husband and explained to him that I had never in my life felt the amount of content, satisfaction, fulfillment and confidence than in that season.  What was amazing to me was realizing that it hadn’t come from affirmation or validation from others. It came from a newfound understanding that I am known in my relationship with Christ.

Do you understand that you are known by God?  If so, do you see that confidence positively affect your relationship and quality of life?

Or, do you not understand what it truly means to be known by God? Do you find yourself functioning out of a place that looks for affirmation and validation from others, rather than resting in a confidence and trust in God alone?

My prayer for you is that you would start walking in a way that reflects the revelation that you are known by God. And as a result you would begin to walk in the God confidence that is available to us as we rest in being known by our God.  Let this truth free you from looking for value and validation from those around you, and walk in the confidence that can only be found by being known by our God.

He knows every hair on your head.

He knows your every desire.

He sees every tear. 

He sees every shortcoming.

And yet, He chose you.

He loves you.