Known and Loved

"People keep telling me they know me.  I'm afraid no one does."

~Rey, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Rey = my favorite Star Wars character, and this pensive little quote resonated when I heard her say it.  I think we all feel that way sometimes -- that no one person truly, fully knows us.

But the more I've reflected on that idea, I feel thankful rather than disappointed by it...  Our Creator is the only one who truly knows everything about us and "delights in every detail" of our lives, and that is just as it should be.  Our close friends and relatives individually know certain parts of who we are, and they bear witness to specific portions of our lives... which is such a gift!  They each understand and shape unique pieces of the puzzle that form our life stories, and vice versa.  But GOD is the one who designed those pieces and connects them all together.  He's the only one who sees and knows the entire picture He has in mind for our lives, long before we fully understand it all!

We all know I'm a metaphorical thinker, and I love this puzzle illustration more than I can say. ❤  The idea that each key person in my life shapes and colors different pieces of my story no longer makes me feel unknown, fragmented, or broken.  It makes me feel supported on all sides, wonderfully complex, uniquely valuable, and grateful for God's power to build up and hold everything together.   God knows my heart, my gifts, and my needs so well that He has a plan to connect all of these individual pieces together and create something really beautiful in and through my life!  And that applies to each one of us.  Our lives are multifaceted, and God alone sees it all and knows it all and holds us all together... and that truth is entirely comforting!!

Our human connections matter deeply in building God's kingdom and encouraging each other and feeling known and valued.  But as Ted Mosby put it, "you're never done getting to know someone."  There is always more for us to discover and appreciate about each other's strengths, weaknesses, backgrounds, dreams, etc.  And that feels awesome and exciting and fun to me... so I love that it will continue through eternity.  Those who choose Christ will get to keep connecting and learning more about each other when we get to heaven, freed up from all the petty things that entangle and distract us and damage our relationships here...

When God is on the throne of my heart, I can respect and love others as He leads me without feeling unfair tensions or fear of loss.  I am safe, I am worth loving, and the love I have to offer is valuable.  As Chettles has said, "I may not be everyone's flavor" ...but I am loved by so many, and I want to be fully alive and joyful and connecting deeply and loving them well!  Perfect love casts out fear, so I'm praying to keep growing and moving forward in that direction. ❤

We each have our unique flaws and things to work on, but we all need healthy connection while we're making progress in our journey!  And I guess my point in this post is that we are already far more connected than we may realize.  If ever you have a low moment and feel like no one really knows you, climb out of that pit and remind yourself that your life is an unfinished puzzle that God is piecing together, and EVERY person who cares about you (past, present, and future) forms and knows different pieces of it.  How great is that!?  Also remember that you ARE seen and heard and fully known and loved by the One who created you.  He knows your whole story from beginning to end... and on a much grander scale, God alone knows how the puzzle piece of your earthly life fits into the epic story of the world He created and the purpose you will serve in His Kingdom!

God really is an awesome God, and we belong with Him.  He knows us better than we know ourselves.  So the more we abide and rest in Him, the more secure we will feel in our understanding that we are known and loved and uniquely significant! ❤