By JaDonna Brattin
A phrase that keeps coming up for me lately is “You don’t know what you don’t know.” This is a phrase that could be applied to life in multiple ways for us all. But really, this phrase is a reminder that there is absolutely no way for a human being to “know” everything or to “have all the information” for any given circumstance. This has the potential for inducing stress, especially when the need to make an important decision arises or when you have to deal with a particularly delicate relationship issue.
The wonderful thing for us as Christians is that GOD DOES KNOW! He knows everything. He sees every detail of any situation. He is keenly aware of motives and intentions. Nothing catches Him by surprise.
In Luke 23 Jesus’ crucifixion is detailed for us. As the soldiers nailed His hands and feet to the cross and placed His beaten and bloodied body on display between two criminals, verse 34 says “Jesus said, ‘Father forgive them, for they DO NOT KNOW what they are doing.'” (emphasis mine) In essence Jesus was saying, ‘Father they don’t know what they don’t know.’ They DON’T KNOW the plan. They DON’T KNOW this is for their salvation. They DON’T KNOW that what they are doing will bring victory over sin and death. They DON’T KNOW this very act of mind-blowing malicious torture will guarantee hope of eternity in heaven for those who will believe.
My point is this: We don’t know, but He does. God KNOWS! He has always known. He always will know. And we can count on the fact that HE KNOWS.
So, whatever you or I may find ourselves facing at any moment of the day that lies ahead, we need to remind ourselves that God already knows. He is just waiting for us to come to Him. He will guide, He will counsel, He will comfort and He will give wisdom if we will just ask.
We often say, “Hindsight is 20/20.” But God sees forward and is fully capable of walking us successfully through ALL the things we don’t know!