“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.” —Psalm 139:1 (NASB)
In the quiet, beyond the reach of expectations and the echo of applause, you are known—intimately, personally, unconditionally. Not because of what you have done, nor for what you might someday accomplish, but simply because He delights in you.
It is easy, as shepherds, to let our identities become tethered to the roles we fill and the voices we carry. Quietly, though, beneath every sermon preached, every prayer offered, and every decision made in hidden faithfulness, there exists a part of you the world rarely sees—the soul. And yet, God sees it all. David declares, “You have searched me and known me.” This is no distant awareness; it is an unshakable, merciful nearness.
To be fully known by God means there is no need to strive for approval or explain your weariness. He already understands. He knows the conflict you handled with grace, the lonely hours poured into preparation, and the tears shed behind closed doors. His knowing is not scrutiny—it is sanctuary. A place to be seen, understood, and unconditionally loved.
Christ, the Chief Shepherd, does not only call us to lead. He leads us. He ministers to His ministers. He strengthens us through His Word, steadies us by His Spirit, and models for us a life of intimacy with the Father—rising early to pray, withdrawing from the crowds, and listening before speaking. He knows our frame and still calls us His own.
Allow yourself the grace of being led by Him. Let go of the illusion that fruitfulness always feels visible. Sometimes faithfulness looks like unseen obedience. Sometimes the bravest thing a shepherd can do is to sit down, breathe, and be still.
You are not forgotten. You are not measured by outcomes. You are not only a vessel of God’s work—you are the object of His love.
So, pause. Right now, wherever you are—perhaps take a moment, close your eyes, and simply whisper, “Lord, You know me.” Let that truth settle in your spirit. You are quietly known. Deeply loved. Eternally held.