Do You Really Know Yourself?

After being struck by adversities, Job reacted with a kind of obsession about his own innocence. Yet, it seemed impossible to defend himself. He asked, “How can a mortal be just before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand.”

Job knew that God was powerful but did not know how to interact with Him on a personal level: “He passes by me, and I do not see him; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.”

He felt helpless: “Though I am innocent, I cannot answer HHHim … If I summoned Him … I do not believe that he would listen to my voice.” Realizing that he knew nothing about Jesus or the Holy Spirit, Job felt that there was no way to answer God because “there is no umpire between us.”

Like Job, it can be natural to feel defensive, to justify ourselves. But this is why we need to stay humble before God. To realize that He knows us better than we know ourselves.

David learned this truth, realizing that God had “searched me and known me.” That He knew each word even before it was spoken. That God saw his entire life, and knew what was best for him. He declared, “How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!”

While Job challenged God, David humbled himself, crying out, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts” (Psalm 139:1-24).

What is your attitude? Are you defensive and argumentative? Or humble? Today, recommit your life to serving God. Focus on worship and prayer. Have faith in Him. Trust Him.