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.
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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}

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Paul’s greeting to the church at Philippi warmly displays his godly affection for the fellow believers he was so invested in. Each expression of love in the greeting teaches us something about what it means to build one another up in Christ.

Let’s not gloss over this passage as a nicety.

Will you take it as an opportunity to examine yourself and your affection for fellow believers with me?

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi.”

–Ph 1:1

Point: Right away, Paul identifies himself and the recipients of the letter according to who they all are in Christ.

Q: Do you think of others as 'that busy, loud lady', 'the guy who never smiles' or… 'one of God’s people?'
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“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” –Ph 1:2

Point: We enter conversations with all sorts of intentions and baggage. Paul brings God’s good gifts right away instead of offloading his own stuff.

Q: Do you engage with others to extend God’s peace and grace first and foremost?

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” –Ph 1:3

Point: Every time we remember people is often a lot of times. And sometimes those remembrances are the result of grudges, suspicions, and other issues we haven’t let go of.

Q: Do you thank God for others when you think about them?

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” –Ph 1:4-5

Point: Joy accompanied Paul’s prayers for the Philippians. He was appreciative of their reaction to the Gospel and saw them as partners in faith.

Q: Do you rejoice about others’ faith, do you pray joyfully for others about their love for the Lord?

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” –Ph 1:6

Point: It’s easy to prescribe our own ideas of the work that needs to be done in others’ lives, as well as to worry about their growth. Paul trusted Christ to do the work and complete it- and he made that clear to his loved ones.
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Q: Do you speak confidently about God’s work in others’ lives? Do you trust God to work in others?

“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart” – Ph 1:7

Point: Paul felt joyful, appreciative, and confident about God’s work in these people because he was deeply invested in them.

Q: Do you carry others in your heart in such a way that you are deeply invested in their faith?

“Whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.” –Ph 1:7

Point: In every circumstance, Paul recognized others as sharing in God’s grace with him. It would have been easy to withdraw or assume they couldn’t understand, making comparisons. Instead of drawing lines, Paul drew a circle of God’s grace around himself and others.

Q: Do you see others as sharing in God’s grace through your circumstances?

“God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” –Ph 1:8

Point: Paul’s longing was so sincere and so based in Christ, instead of being rooted in convenience, relational chemistry, or ancillary things held in common.

Q: Would you want God to testify about the way you have cared for others? Has that caring been Christlike?

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” –Ph 1:9-11

Point: Paul’s prayers for these beloved people weren’t focused on circumstances, wishes, or even trials. His main concern was their relationship with Christ and their progress in the faith.

Q: Are your prayers for others about them growing in and glorifying God?

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

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LINKUP PARTY is open! Today, my friend @BethanyMcIlrath challenged me. Do I carry others in my heart in such a way that I am deeply invested in their faith? JOIN us & share your blog
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