Known, Heard, Delivered
Well, howdy-do there, friend! How special to have you walkin’ up the path and comin’ over for a lil’ ol’ visit today. So, mosey right on up to this ol’ front porch. Let me tell you what! Look at that skittish lil ’ol’ squirrel over there tryin’ to be hidin’ behind a fence post that’s clearly way too skinny to be hidin’ anything, bless its lil’ heart. Yep, that lil’ rascal keeps on peekin’ around that ol’ post like it’s tryin’ to be confessin’ secrets to it. And that there’s exactly how we act with God sometimes. We try to be hidin’ our fears, our worries, and our messes even though He already sees every doggone bit of it all. Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” God already knows what’s goin’ on with you, and He plum already cares, too.
The Greek word for confess is “homologeo,” which means “to say the same thing.” It ain’t just about confessin sin. It’s plum about agreein’ with God about what’s true. Matthew 6:8 reminds us that “your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” He ain’t waitin for you to impress Him with your real fancy prayers. He’s just waitin’ for you to be real honest. Even if your honesty sounds like an ol’ barn owl hootin’ up at the wrong tree.
David understood this real well. Before he ever wore a crown, he sho’-nuff’ found himself in a mighty dangerous situation with a Philistine king in First Samuel 21:10-15. He wrote Psalm 34 as a record of how God rescued him. He started with praise in verses 1-3, then said, “[He] delivered me from all my fears” in verse 4. David wasn’t afraid to admit he was afraid. He even said, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” in verse 19. He plum knew God could handle the truth of his heart.
And friend, God can sho’-nuff’ handle yours, too. Whatever you’re feelin’, you gotta tell Him. Whatever you’re carryin, you gotta hand it over. First John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” He hears you when you whisper. He hears you when you cry. He hears you when you can’t find the words at all.
Father, thank You for knowin’ my needs before I speak them. Help me confess honestly, trust deeply, and rest in Your care. Deliver me from my fears and teach me to praise You even in trouble. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Well, bless your heart, friend, don’t you be lettin’ fear convince you that your story is real stuck. God already plum knows every twist and turn, and He sho’-nuff’ ain’t wringin’ His hands wonderin’ what to do next. What feels mighty heavy today may turn out to be the very place He plants tomorrow’s strength. Just as a lil’ ol’ river otter that slips off a muddy bank pops right back up with a grin like it meant to do it, God has a way of liftin’ you right up again when life knocks you sideways. And when the evening settles over the barnyard, and the cicadas start their choir practice, His steady presence will still be walkin’ right with you, remindin' you that honesty with the Lord ain’t no sign of weakness. It’s the grand doorway where real courage finally steps inside and sits down for a real good supper.
With joy,
Gwen
