The Stuff We Face and the Twelve Things We Can Absolutely, Positively Know!

My friends are reading this post in different parts of the world. We have different strengths and weaknesses. We have a wide variety of interests and abilities. We come from many walks in life. In spite of these things, we truly share much in common. Sooner or later we are going to face a dozen circumstances that I’m calling stuff. When these circumstances occur, there are some very specific things we can absolutely, positively know for sure!

This doesn’t mean that we will be unfeeling. We are not robots. We still care deeply, yet in the midst of these circumstances that are common to each of us, the Lord wants to give us a settled certainty. Without being arrogant, we can have a “know-so” confidence that comes from Him.

You might be surprised to learn that the word “know” is found 763 times in 717 verses in the Bible. Let me share just a dozen of these with you.

1. When your world is shattered and it is hard to understand what God is doing, think of Job. Rest assured that God is there and knows what He is doing.

“Then Job answered the LORD and said: I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You” (Job 42:1-2).

2. When your faith is being tested, remember His name which is the revelation of Who God is and how you can trust Him.

“And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You” (Psalm 9:10).

3. When there is noise and confusion all around you, discover again the joy of slowing down and quieting yourself. Get into His Word, and by faith watch what “knowing” that He is God is going to do.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:10-11).

4. When ungodly and arrogant people seemingly are winning, remember that God is still in control.

“That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth” (Psalm 83:18).

5. When so-called “highly educated” people with boastful confidence proclaim that we are the product of evolution, rest assured that He alone is the Creator.

“Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3).

6. When you hear people say that there are many roads to Heaven and all religions are correct, remember that there is only one true and living Lord, even if some say that this is “politically incorrect.”

“You are My witnesses, says the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:10-11).

7. When you are told by people that you know, love, and care about that they don’t need a Savior, remember that they do indeed need the Lord. Stay faithful in your witness and testimony.

“And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’ Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world’” (John 4:39, 42).

8. When you have feelings of being overwhelmed, remember to Whom you belong.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep. My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; nether shall anyone snatch them out of My hand”” (John 10:14-15, 27-28).

9. When you are facing the most difficult moments of your life, remember these words were prayed by your Savior on the night before He went to the cross for you.

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

10. When life situations do not make sense, remember how the Lord is weaving the experiences of your life into something beautiful. You are not seeing the entire masterpiece at this moment. You are seeing only a small piece of the fabric being woven. Give the Lord time and trust Him.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

11. When times of uncertainty come into your life, know for sure that the starting point is always to know Who loves you and that He has a great plan for your life.

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width, and length, and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

12. When people adamantly tell you that no one can know for sure where we will spend eternity, remember this wonderful truth. You absolutely can know Him. It may sound strange, but think of this. The Lord Himself is saying to us that we can know for sure that we really can know Him for sure!

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).