“Your eyes are open to all the ways of mortals.” —Jeremiah 32:19b

Do you ever find yourself trying to explain something to God? Maybe you’re trying to let him know about the extenuating circumstances that help provide context for—if not excuse for—some regrettable bit of behavior. Or maybe your conversation with God is flowing along like any other conversation, and you’re just providing some updates and background information that God will need if he’s really going to understand.

Even though this is, at some level, a little silly, I don’t think that’s always a bad thing. God wants us to approach him openly and honestly. We shouldn’t talk to God in fear of making a mistake of logic in our speech. I imagine when we start to explain things to God, he smiles a bit and thinks, “Yes, I know, child.”

Scripture reminds us again and again that God’s knowledge and understanding is far beyond our own. There’s no truth we can tell God that he doesn’t already know.

The prophet Jeremiah, who lived about 600 years before Jesus, spoke about the power and sovereignty of God. In the words just before today’s verse, Jeremiah spoke of God’s might and righteous judgment. In the words immediately following today’s verse, Jeremiah spoke of God rewarding “each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.”

God is not blind to our reality. He can’t be fooled. This should give us a healthy sense of reverence for God. God is mighty and he knows the truth about us, even truth that we hide from every other person (and even truth that we hide from ourselves).

But this reality should encourage us so much more than it should frighten us. Because we know that God sent his Son to die for us knowing full well who we are. When Jesus suffered for us, God in freedom made the deal with humanity that he wanted to make.

This also means that there is no thing we go through that God does not understand. When you’re hurting, when you’re feeling weak, when you’re giddy with excitement or scared of what’s around the corner, when you’re anxious or worn out, when you’re grieving a loss you don’t think you can bear, God understands. God knows. God loves you and cares about you and is stronger than anything that opposes you.

I find this incredibly comforting. I’ll never hear God say “Oh, I didn’t know that was important to you.” God knows us better than we know ourselves. He’s a good, great, and mighty Father. And he is our Father.