This week’s devotions are based on “Rooted: Finding My Identity in Christ: I am chosen! (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 1:15–17: 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better
Paul begins his prayer for the Christians in Ephesus with something we might overlook. He does not first ask God to change their circumstances. He does not ask God to make their lives easier. He asks God to help them know Christ better.
Paul writes, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
That is a beautiful prayer for every Christian.
We often think confidence comes from knowing what is going to happen. If we could see the future, understand every circumstance, and know how every problem will turn out, we think we could finally relax. But God offers something better. He does not promise that we will understand everything. He promises that we can know Him.
Think about a child walking through a crowded place while holding the hand of a parent. The child does not know where everyone is going. The child does not understand everything happening around him. He simply knows who is holding his hand. That knowledge gives him confidence.
The same is true for us. We may not understand why God allows certain things to happen. We may not know what tomorrow will bring. We may have questions about our family, our health, our work, or our future. But we know the One who holds us.
Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14). What a comforting thought. Jesus knows you completely, and He still loves you completely. He knows your weaknesses, your fears, your failures, and your doubts. Yet He gave His life for you.
The Holy Spirit works through God’s Word to open our eyes to this reality. Scripture continually turns our attention away from ourselves and toward Christ. As we hear His promises, our faith grows. As we see His grace, our fears begin to lose their grip. As we know Christ more deeply, we become more confident in the One who knows us perfectly.
Proverbs 3:5 reminds us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Notice that God does not tell us that understanding is unnecessary. He tells us not to make our understanding the foundation of our confidence.
You do not have to understand everything today.
You do not have to know what tomorrow holds.
You do not have to have all the answers.
You have Christ.
And you can be confident because you know Christ.