You say it when someone asks you to do something and you aren’t sure how to answer. The words are uttered in annoyance by kids everywhere as parents inquire about homework, grades, and missing toys. “…Anymore” is tagged on when tragedies strike and we’re left in shock.

Feelings of doubt, loss, vulnerability, and betrayal often overcome us when we realize that we don’t know something that we think we should, or that we want to, or that we thought we already knew. Consequently, not knowing is something that we have to live with, but also something that many of us despise.

God has plenty to say on the subject of not knowing to comfort those of us who really can’t stand being in the dark:

You know what you need to

In 2 Peter 1:3 we read that: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” It’s your knowledge of Christ that ensures that you know what you need to when it counts.

Sure, you might not know if you made a mistake graduating from that college. You’ll never figure out if accepting that job over this one would have led to an earlier promotion. But you know Christ, and that means you know how to seek and obey. Further, you know that all things will work together for good because you love Him and follow Him (Romans 8:28.)

You know that you can grow in knowledge

At this exact moment, you might find that there are things you hope to know but don’t know yet. Perhaps you’ve experienced hardship at length and little joy –you probably want to know what it is to revel in the joy of the Lord, for example.

Trust, wait, and seek to know. You can be “growing in the knowledge of God” as you find that “God…fills you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way” (Colossians 1:9-10.)

Just because you don’t know something now doesn’t mean that you never will. Trust God to teach you in time.

Just because you don’t know something now doesn’t mean that you never will. Trust God to teach you in time.
Click To Tweet

You know enough to know what isn’t true

Paul prayed in Colossians 2:2-4 that believers “may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.”

Notice the reason he prayed for people to have understanding, wisdom, and knowledge. Paul’s point was that in having such knowledge of Christ people wouldn’t be deceived. The light shines to expose the darkness.

Though your knowledge may not feel complete and there may be mysteries that you don’t have the answers to (so irksome!) you can at least know what isn’t true. You can know enough by knowing Christ to understand when something is deceptive –to keep away from what is “falsely called knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20.)

You know that He knows

Finding out that our preconceptions and assumptions were incorrect is tough and can seriously shake our faith and beliefs. Learning that there are things that will not be known in this life, like if a loved one went to heaven, is painful.

Part of resting in the Lord -finding comfort, hope, and joy in Him- is knowing that He knows and then letting that be that.

Psalm 139:6 proclaims: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Meanwhile, Psalm 147:5 echoes: “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

Let that be enough. The same God who knows you, loves you, is perfect, and is above all – He knows all about it.

So take a breath, hand the thoughts you’ve been turning over in your mind to the Lord, and set your mind on better things (Colossians 3:10.)

{A version of this post was previously published here}

LINKUP PARTY opens on Wednesdays at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open! Today, my friend @BethanyMcIlrath challenges us to trust God in things we don't have answers for. Join us and share your blog! #RechargeWednesday
Click To Tweet

The post To The Wanna-Know-It-Alls {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

No matter how much we try to know, we don’t know it all. There are always opportunities we can’t see. The Lord is always at work on something we don’t even know needs work. It seems that knowledge, no matter how fervently we chase it, eludes us in some ways.

Relying too heavily on our limited knowledge leaves us with regrets…or at least in the position of having to decide between making choices based on what we know versus what we believe.

Have you had to make a choice that you knew was right but that you thought you would regret? I have. Over and over again.

A long time ago, I turned down a job offer. For a position I’d prayed for for years. Every bit of limited knowledge I had said “make it work,” that this was the opportunity I’d been waiting for. The Lord told me no. When I said yes to Him and no to the offer, I thought I would regret it soon.

The next day, another call came. Another offer. The same kind of position –but somewhere else with better hours and better pay (and what turned out to be amazing people.) And it came with the peace of the Lord.

All I had to do was wait one day. I couldn’t have known what was coming. I couldn’t have known that it could get better than that first offer seemed. I couldn’t have known that regret for a day would be erased by the Lord to make the slate clean.

Thank the Lord –He knew. Thank the Lord –He even washes our regrets anew!

That’s what happens when we regret and the Lord erases it. We take a slate that we’ve muddied and dirtied with doubt and with whole reliance on reason, and we toss it out. Regret makes it seem like there is no turning back and that slate is now useless forever. He erases it, He makes it clean.

Romans 8:27-28 tells us that “He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” (MSG)

Who would have thought that even our regrets could be used for the good of those who love Him?

Who would have thought that even our regrets could be used for the good of those who love Him?@BethanyMcIlrath
Click To Tweet

For all the ways my knowledge fails me, I’ve found the Lord does not. Even when I fail. Even when my choices seem backwards, but right. He erases regret because regret it about my way –and when that slate is clean, He makes beautiful works of art that are better than anything I could ever dream.

Today I’m glad I turned down that job.

I’m glad that money has kept us at times from making decisions to do things more “typically” because we’ve had some amazing relationships out of it. I’m glad for some of my worst moments because, without some of the mistakes and brokenness I’ve regretted, I would never have let people into my heart as far as I have. These are some of my anti-regrets. These are what keep me saying “Yes, Lord” when I want to say “no.”

{A version of this post was previously published elsewhere}

LINKUP PARTY opens at 6 am EST!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open! Today, @BethanyMcIlrath challenges us: even big regrets work together for the good of those who love Him. Join us & share your blog!
Click To Tweet

The post God Erases Our Regrets {Recharge Wednesday Linkup} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.