Do You Know God?

READ: JOHN 17:3; 2 PETER 3:18

Editor’s note: Today’s reading discusses abuse.

Daniel. Esther. Peter. Paul. As a teenager, I knew them all. If there was a Bible trivia show, I could have been a champion. I went to church and knew Bible stories like the back of my hand.

I knew about God, but I did not know Him.

How about you? Do you know about God? Or do you know God? What’s the difference?

While I had accepted Jesus as my Savior, I didn’t understand what it meant to have a relationship with Him. I didn’t know His Word, I didn’t know my worth in Him, and I didn’t know His promises and how to hear His voice over lies.

In the midst of all of this, I had the good desires to be loved and to be a mom one day. So, when love came knocking, I opened my heart wide. This could have worked out well if my boyfriend had been a healthy individual, but he was not. Instead, he was abusive, emotionally manipulative, and a destroyer of my self-worth.

At the time, I didn’t know God well enough to know His love for me, my worth in Him, and the promises in His Word. I didn’t know He would fulfill the desires of my heart as I delight in Him (Psalm 37:4). I didn’t know I could trust Him for all the details of my life, including relationships.

When we know God and not just know about Him, it changes everything. His truths permeate our minds. His promises override our fears. His presence leads us through life’s big decisions. His Word becomes the lamp for our feet and the light for our paths (Psalm 119:105).

God loves us so deeply, reaching out to us before we could love Him, dying on the cross for us (1 John 4:19). Our trustworthy Savior invites us into relationship with Him, so that we may be ever deepening in our understanding of Him and the good news that He has come to save and restore us. No matter what we experience, Jesus is present with us, including giving us wisdom to find safe people—who reflect His love—to reach out to when we experience abuse. • Erin Nestico

• If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, and if your situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away.

If you need someone to talk to but are not in need of immediate help, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.

• Have you ever been hurt by a dating partner’s words or actions?* Have you hurt someone? There is hope through Jesus. He offers healing and forgiveness, no matter how terrible the situation may be. Who is a trusted Christian adult you can talk to as you seek to follow God’s good intentions for how people should treat one another, including setting up loving boundaries?

• How is knowing God different from knowing about Him? 

• Jesus invites us into relationship with God, to know Him deeper and deeper throughout our lives. Would you like to pursue this kind of relationship with Jesus? If you have questions about it, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to? (If you want to learn more about what it means to know God, check out our "Know Jesus" page.)

*If you are unsure about whether or not a dating partner is acting in an unhealthy manner, consider these questions: Is this person controlling, prideful, dishonest, or selfish? Is this person unable to admit when they are wrong? Do you both have a say in decisions you make as a couple? Has this person cheated on you? Are you scared to bring up certain subjects with this person because they will act in a violent and/or overly angry way? Do you live in constant fear of offending your partner? Do you find yourself talking yourself into trusting them? Does this person denigrate you verbally or make you feel bad about yourself? Does this person hurt you physically? If one or more of these questions resonates with your situation, reach out for help and check out the resources in the discussion questions above.

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3 (NIV)