When Heaven Knows Your Name

Mercy, look what the wind blew up the lane! Now then, friend, set that there worry down over by the door and pull yourself a good chair over here on this ol’ front porch before them warm biscuits decide they’ve waited long enough on us. Oh, and make sure to scoot that lil’ flowerpot over before you sit down on them geraniums. The stars are scattered all across heaven like somebody flung diamonds over a black velvet quilt, and somewhere a lil’ ol’ bullfrog is carryin’ on like he personally arranged the whole display. Lookin’ at all that can plum make a person feel mighty small.

David sho’-nuff’ felt the same way.

In Psalm 8:3–4, David looked toward the moon and stars and wrote, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them?”

But God downright does feel this way. He doesn’t merely know humanity in some great big crowd. He specifically knows you. Your worries. Your disappointments. The prayer you haven’t figured out how to put into words. The thing everybody else thinks is small that feels enormous to you.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:8, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

And here’s another beautiful truth found in Isaiah 49:15–16, where God says, “Even if a mother could forget her child, He will not forget His people saying, ‘I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.’”

Friend, you ain’t just a lil’ ol’ name scribbled on heaven’s grocery list. You are downright remembered.

People may overlook you. Somebody may forget to call. You may occasionally feel about as noticeable as a lil’ ol’ field mouse hidin’ behind the feed barrel. But heaven has never misplaced you not even one time..

Father, when I feel forgotten or insignificant, remind me that Your attention never wanders from me. Thank You for knowing every need, every fear, and every hope I carry. Help me rest in the wonder that the God that holds the stars also holds me. Let that truth give me courage for today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now then, you git to walkin’ on out of that ol’ yard fence gate and start to strollin’ back down the road, friend, with your chin held up high and your heart plum settled. The God that keeps planets in their places hasn’t lost track of you either. A lil’ ol’ sparrow may disappear into the cedar branches, but not from His sight. So, quit measurin’ your worth by how much attention this world ol’ gives you. Heaven sho’-nuff’ knows your name, and that’s plenty enough reason to be walkin’ a little bit lighter today.

With joy,

Gwen