He Knows

As the semester begins I face the task of memorizing over 200 students’ names. I’m not very good at verbatim memorization so this is a daunting task for me. But I realize how important it is, so I pray for help and spend hours reviewing flash cards. What makes it even more difficult is that I’ll associate a name with a feature such as his or her hair and then get to class only to discover that he or she has cut or colored their hair. Or I’ll get the name down and the person drops the class. (I think there should be a rule that if the teacher knows your name you have to stay in the class!)

But I’m not just complaining here. All this work at memorizing has made me think about how our Father in Heaven knows each one of us by name. Not only that, He knows what is bothering us and what brings us joy. He knows where our weaknesses are, but most of all He knows what we need in order to overcome and transcend the weaknesses that hold us back and keep us far from Him. I don’t know how He does it, but I appreciate it more and more as I struggle to simply learn a few names.

Our Father in Heaven knows us. He loves us. And He will guide and nurture us if we just trust in Him and let Him love us.