“You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways.”

Psalm 139:2-3 CSB

I once worked a job where I was newer on the team of an established group, which is always a daunting thing to walk into. People have dynamics already at play, so you have to learn quickly while others begin to warm up to you, but this was a tougher place to make that breakthrough. There was a moment though, where one of the guys on the team and I were going to go make a pick up run to a place that was going to be a thirty-minute drive away, which I knew would be perfect to get to know each other and make that breakthrough. What actually happened was a one-sided conversation, where I learned a lot about him but he never really asked about me.

Those really aren’t great, because you can tell when someone is interested in getting to know you, more than just a monologue about themselves. What made it funnier is he made a comment to me that “people don’t really know that much about you,” like, yeah! You didn’t seek it!

I share this because each of us want to be known, we want people to care about us because it shows that we are more than a means to an end.

While many people may not show the care for you, we have a savior who fully knows and fully loves each and every one of us.

With the start of October being here, as well as me being more consistent in my writing, I love to bring up spooky things to help make a point of God’s truth. So, when I was thinking about this concept of Christ knowing us and loving us, I was inspired by the classic Goosebumps story, “The Haunted Mask.” Hang in there with me, this book and then later a very creepy TV episode is about a girl who is constantly being bullied and decides to get revenge with the scariest mask she finds. The more she wears the mask, the meaner she becomes, only to find out the mask won’t come off, gasp! Don’t you hate it when that happens? The end of the story shows our main character is able to take off the mask when she remembers the love her mom has for her, her mom, who fully knows the heart of her daughter and who she truly is.

I think that’s a beautiful picture of how we often act in life. We can so easily not be known and then feel like we need to mask who we truly are to be accepted or perceived in a different way, but when we begin to live as we truly are, we are set free.

Don’t mask who you have been created to be, live free because you are fully known and loved by our savior.

It can be so frustrating to not be known, but, you have been created by a creator who designed you with a purpose and has knit you together to be perfectly who you are. Live into that, let that knowledge free you, so that you can live life to the fullest. Now, will this mean everyone around you will fully know you? Probably not, but you have to be okay with it and learn to let go and know who you are.

I have been in ministry for a long time, started serving in kids while I was a middle schooler, all through high school, then immediately started interning and began a professional life of ministry for the years following it to this point. Meaning I have over fifteen years of knowledge and experience, as well as a masters and undergrad degree. With all of that, still in my previous ministry position, I had moments where parents and even some staff didn’t see me as being qualified. In those moments, which were frustrating and made me want to shake them and tell them all of this background, I had to let it go and keep calm knowing who I am in Christ despite not being known by others.

You are fully known and loved by God, trust in Him and live free.

Now, this isn’t all about you and me, it’s about others too. You don’t want to be like my old coworker, you need to understand that everyone around you has a different story to tell. I have never met a person who did not have a story worth hearing. So, this means you need to get good and knowing and loving others. God created you uniquely, and so did He with every single person you come across.

I try very hard to remember details that people share so that I can connect better, not to gain anything, but to show that I see you and hear you. In the world today, it is insane how self-centered we can all get, don’t allow that spirit to be a part of you. Care for the people around you and show them that you see them and who God created them to be. Not everyone will do the same for you, but that doesn’t matter, what matters is how you show up and care.

The people around you desperately want to be known and loved, and you have the power to do that.

I am so thankful to have a Christ who knows everything about me, good and bad, and loves me in all of it. Even when I feel invisible or not cared for, I have a Christ that sees me and knows exactly what I need. What is even better, is that I can then look at the people around me and see how I can know and love them.

This is what we are called to do as Christ followers, trust and be filled to overflow by God and then pour out that love onto others.

You are known and loved. I hope you take that to heart today. Whatever situation you find yourself in, maybe you are surrounded by a lot of people or maybe you are feeling isolated and can’t be yourself, hold tight to the truth that Christ knows and loves you. Take that knowledge and live your life in a way that shows others that they are designed by God and are known and loved by you, shining that light of Christ through your actions.

-Your pastor and friend, Joshua.

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About the Author: Joshua Thomas is a husband, father, and pastor doing what he can to love others the way Jesus did. You can find him reading a good book, sipping warm tea, taking pictures, or dreaming. He may not have it all figured out, but the journey is the best part. You can find him on the only social media he uses, Bluesky and Instagram