Have you ever felt like someone got an impression of you that might have been accurate on some level, but didn’t really capture the depth of who you really are? Maybe someone sees you as being really athletic, or artistic, or smart. Sometimes, it’s nice to be recognized for something that sounds attractive, fun, and exciting, like being recognized for having a TikTok go viral or accomplishing something great that few others have.
But being recognized for something isn’t the same as being known. You can recognize someone from a distance, but you can’t really know them until you’ve had time to be up close and personal. Being recognized is fleeting. But being known – really known – is something powerful and lasting.
When God created you, He didn’t create you from a distance as though you were a small speck in a sea of humanity. You are not a face in the crowd to Him. No, when He created you, the Bible says He “knew you thoroughly.” (Psalm 139:14). And He loved crafting and forming the deepest and realest parts of who you are – your heart, your mind, your beautiful face. God created you in His likeness, in His image, and that makes your worth and value more than you could imagine. It has nothing to do with recognition the world can offer, but everything to do with real identity, of being known by the One who created you Himself. Identity in Jesus carries far more worth and value than anything this world could offer.
As we go through life, we will encounter situations or relationships where it can be hard to feel as though we are really known. The truth is that status, position, recognition, or the number of followers we have on social media, those things might offer a temporary measure of affirmation, identity, or belonging for a moment. Eventually, however, it will fade from view and the world will move on to the next thing or person or viral sensation. If we have put our value on what others say or notice about us, we’ll find ourselves struggling with how to regain that worth and value when the recognition is gone.
There is no person or status or accomplishment or follower count on earth that can satisfy the place of “being known” at our core. There are people the world over who are searching and hungry to be truly known, to prove themselves, to get validation – and the greatest gift is that we are already known, found, understood, validated, and approved in Jesus. Once we come to know this for ourselves, the most amazing thing happens! It actually won’t even matter who recognizes or knows or values or really “gets” us, because God is ENOUGH (more than enough!).
As we allow our identity to be rooted in Jesus, He will always speak value and worth into our hearts. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He loves who He created you to be. It’s a powerful revelation to learn that God knows us and that we deeply matter to Him.
We belong to Him. He cares for us. He is for us. He notices when we cry. He has compassion on us when our heart breaks. He cheers in our victories. He wants to speak into our lives and reveal things to us about ourselves, about who He is, and about His Word that will leave us amazed.
Seek to be fully known by God, to grow in relationship with Him, to be found in His love, and in His purpose for your life. All we are and all we need is found in Jesus Christ alone. He has amazing days planned for your life. He has already gone into your future and written a beautiful story – a beautiful one, just for you. He created you with great intention and care, and has an awesome and amazing plan for your life. Don’t worry about what others see, or even what they miss – God sees you. He knows you. And He loves you.
