Encouragement for Today

July 16, 2025 A Psalm for the Fearfully Known and Questionably Loved GLENNA MARSHALL Lee en español

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me!” Psalm 139:1 (ESV)

I used to think God didn’t like me.

I worried I’d never be able to convince Him that He made a good decision in saving me. Though I believed Jesus died to pay for my sins, I wondered if God wanted me to feel unhappy about what it cost — because I thought that was how He felt. Unhappy. Regretful. Annoyed.

Even after coming to faith in Christ, when I was discouraged or when life didn’t go how I hoped, I was sure God was unhappy with me. I feared His love was something I had to earn and keep. Be good, or He’ll love you less — as though God’s love was something that could be lost with bad moods or unchecked boxes on my life’s list of good deeds.

People were quick to say, “God knows your heart!” And I thought to myself with doom, Yes, He most certainly does.

Psalm 139:1 tells us that God knows us, really knows us: “O LORD, you have searched me and known me!” But when you read the entirety of Psalm 139, you don’t find a begrudging love. You find a celebration of being known and loved by God!

Though we hide our worst selves from other people so we can be loved by the world’s definition of the word, God knows every dark corner, every awkward angle, every shadowed space — and He saves and loves us anyway.

His love isn’t based upon our good traits or charming personalities. He loves us because He loves us. Because He always planned to know us up close and intimately, to set His affections on us as His children. And it is His character to keep His promise to love and save. Not with stinginess or reluctance but with delight.

Psalm 139 proclaims what it means to be fully known by God in a way that brings comfort, joy, and peace rather than shame, doubt, and fear. When we get a glimpse of God’s intentional care for us, when we stop confusing the God who is love with our poor definitions of it, then we will love Him more. Why? Because we will better understand that His thoughts toward us are not what we deserve.

As Christians, we often talk about the cross as the pinnacle of God’s love, seeing His ultimate expression of love as His final expression of love. But God’s love didn’t stop at the cross.

Our God is a gracious Father whose love predates time itself.
His love was displayed in Christ’s death and resurrection.
And for those who belong to Him, His love never ends.

Yes, He knows you — inside and out. And He loves you — inside and out.

Lord, You see my every thought and action, and somehow You still love me. Thank You for loving me when I᾿m not lovable. Thank You for making a way for me to be forgiven and made right through faith in Jesus. Help me to live in Your love! May my every thought bring You praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

Do you wonder if God loves you — really loves you? Do you worry that you’ll lose His love or that you might wander from it? In Glenna Marshall’s new book, Known and Loved: Experiencing the Affection of God in Psalm 139, you’ll find assurance that the God who made you knows you deeply and loves you completely. Get it here!

ENGAGE

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Romans 8:39, “… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (ESV).

God knows and loves you completely! How does that knowledge give you confidence to walk faithfully with Him in this life? How does it enable you to say no to sin? Share with us in the comments!

© 2025 by Glenna Marshall. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Moody Publishers for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.

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