What does it mean to be fully known by God?

What does it mean to be fully known by God, not just in the sense of Him possessing omniscience and therefore knowing every fact about me – my name, my address, my favorite color – but in a much deeper, more intimate way? What does it mean for God to know all my thoughts, intentions, motivations, fears, and secrets, even the ones I try to hide from myself? What implications does this profound and complete understanding have for my relationship with Him, and for how I should live my life? Does this full knowledge imply judgment, acceptance, or both? And how does the idea of being fully known intersect with free will and personal autonomy?

Answer

To be fully known by God means to be completely and exhaustively understood by the divine. It implies a comprehension that encompasses every aspect of one’s being, without limitation or obscurity. This encompasses one’s thoughts, motives, emotions, actions, past, present, and future. It signifies an awareness of not only the external self but also the deepest recesses of the heart and mind, including hidden intentions, secret fears, and unrealized potential.

Specifically, being fully known by God suggests the following:

• Complete Intellectual Comprehension: God understands every thought, idea, and mental process. There are no secrets in the mind that are hidden from Him. This includes fleeting thoughts, subconscious inclinations, and the reasoning behind every decision.

• Exhaustive Emotional Awareness: God is aware of every feeling, emotion, and sentiment experienced. This includes joy, sorrow, anger, fear, love, and every subtle nuance of emotional experience. He understands the origin, intensity, and impact of these emotions.

• Perfect Motivational Insight: God understands the underlying reasons and motivations behind every action. He knows the intentions, desires, and purposes that drive behavior, both conscious and unconscious. He perceives the true reasons for actions, even when they are obscured by self-deception or rationalization.

• Comprehensive Biographical Knowledge: God knows every detail of a person’s life, from birth to death, including every event, relationship, and experience that has shaped their identity. He understands the context and significance of each event.

• Unveiled Character Assessment: God sees the true character of a person, beyond the surface appearances and outward behavior. He perceives the strengths, weaknesses, virtues, and flaws that make up their moral and spiritual essence.

• Profound Understanding of Potential: God knows what a person is capable of becoming, the potential that lies dormant within them, and the path they could take to fulfill their purpose.

• Unconditional Acceptance and Love: Even with complete knowledge of every flaw and imperfection, God’s knowledge is accompanied by unconditional love, grace, and mercy. He sees the potential for good and offers redemption and transformation. God knowing everything about us doesn’t change His love or acceptance of us.

Being fully known by God is not necessarily a cause for fear or anxiety, but rather a source of comfort and hope. It implies that one is seen and understood by the only being capable of offering true compassion, forgiveness, and guidance. It is the basis for a deep and intimate relationship with the divine, built on honesty, transparency, and unconditional love.

In essence, to be fully known by God is to be completely and perfectly understood, loved, and accepted for who you truly are, with all your strengths and weaknesses, by a being of infinite wisdom and compassion. It points to a relationship characterized by unparalleled intimacy and profound grace.

Pray This Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before you, humbled by the thought of your infinite knowledge. We ponder, with both awe and trembling, what it truly means to be fully known by you. You see beyond the surface, beyond the carefully constructed masks we wear for the world. You see the depths of our hearts, the hidden motives, the unspoken fears, and the secret desires.

What does it mean to be fully known by you, O God? Does it mean to be judged harshly for every imperfection? Does it mean to be exposed and left vulnerable in the harsh light of your scrutiny? Our hearts fear this exposure, Father, for we know we are flawed and imperfect.

Yet, we also believe that being fully known by you is not just about judgment. It is about unconditional love. It is about understanding that transcends our own limited comprehension. It is about seeing the potential within us, even when we fail to see it ourselves. It is about offering grace and forgiveness, even when we stumble and fall.

Help us, Lord, to embrace the vulnerability of being fully known. Help us to trust in your unwavering love, which accepts us not as we should be, but as we are. Help us to shed the masks and pretenses, to stand before you in honesty and authenticity.

Teach us that being fully known is not a curse, but a blessing. It is the foundation for true intimacy with you, the source of healing, and the path to becoming the people you created us to be. May we find comfort and strength in knowing that even in our darkest moments, we are seen, loved, and held in the palm of your hand.

In your holy name, we pray. Amen.