"How to Know that I matter to God"

When you lose someone very close to you and go through what our church has been going through for the last several weeks it can make us all take a look at our own lives. When we are all alone thinking about life, you may have wondered God what are you doing? Where is my life headed? You may have thought about what you have done or what you have not done. Do you ever pause and add up what your life amounts to and - well, come up short? Maybe you have been working hard, but it doesn't feel like you're getting anywhere. You feel under-appreciated, overlooked, under-paid, or even unnecessary.

During difficult moments in our lives we can often take time to reflect on the struggles of this life. Some people wrestle with these thoughts every day. I have had people come by my office and say "What difference does my life make? Does anybody really know or care about me?" The answer to that question is yes. I care about you, the church cares about you, and even more importantly God cares about you. And you are in the right place at the right time this morning. God has a word for you in Psalm 139. He wants to show you a different picture of your life. He wants to give you a view from the top, to help you see the meaning of your life from His perspective.

I want to share with you four truths that can make a difference!

1. God knows me.

Psalm 139:1–6 ESV

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

What we see here is that King David is the author of this hymn and lament. David is very honest and open to the fact that the Lord knows every part of his life.

Here in the first 6 verses we see 8 different Hebrew words that show us God knows who we are intimately.

1. O Lord you have searched me and known me.

2. You know when I sit down and get up.

3. You understand my thoughts from far away.

4. You observe my travels and my rest.

5. You are aware of all my ways. Everything!

6. Before a word is on my tongue, you Lord know all about it.

7. You have encircled me.

8. You have placed your hand on me.

Each of these words helps us to understand God's knowledge of us. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our most common activities. He also knows the most intricate details of our lives as well. He is with us even when we think we're alone. God is discerning and knows what makes us tick and why we do what we do. God goes before our steps. He knows precisely what you will say or do next, as if it had already been uttered or performed.

My point is this, God knows your heart, your fears, your thoughts, motives, dreams, and frustrations. He knows your past, present and your future. He understands you. He notices what's going on around you, to you, inside you. He gets you.

Now let me just say this. I understand that this may sound controlling or unnerving, but you can rest assured about this: God knows, but He loves you still. When David says here in verse 5 that God has laid His hand upon him, he's referring to an OT practice of bestowing a blessing on someone. A wise father would place his hands on his children and speak words into their lives about who they are and will be, what their place in the family meant, and what their future will be. This was one of the most important acts that happened in Hebrew families.

In the same way, your Heavenly Father who knows you wants to pour out His blessing on you. If you are a believer today, we have hope and peace because God’s Word tells us that we are His children, and we are part of His family. We matter to God! You life matters to God.

2. God pursues me.

Psalm 139:7–12 ESV

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

David begins to take all of this in and he sees that God knows him and the knowledge of God is too wonderful for him. He also says here in verse 6 that this knowledge is high and David is unable to reach it. What this shows us is that David is having a hard time dealing with this. It's just too overwhelming for him, and out of his reach!."

I think David's first instinct here can be the same as ours .

-God how can I escape?

- Where can I hide?

- If God knows all about me, then that is really tough. Why? Because he knows I am a sinner. He knows I'm a hypocrite, He's heard my lies, He saw what I did last week."

David's fear of being exposed made him wonder and question if there was some place, geographically or spiritually, to which he could hide? But God will not let David run away. "He tracks my path," says David. He is determined to give him grace, and to be involved in his life."

That's what David is saying in v. 10 when he says, "Your hand will lead me (which means guidance); Your right hand will hold on to me (that's security).

You know what this means today church? You are wanted by God.Over and over in the Bible, we see this. We are called God's beloved, chosen, dearly loved children. We are told that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. When you begin to feel the crushing weight of loneliness and wonder if you would be missed if you were gone, remember this. God loves you and pursues you.

Mary Ann Bird writes that when she was growing up, she knew she was different. "And I hated it," she said. "I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started school, my classmates made it clear to me how I looked to others: a little girl with a misshapen lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and garbled speech.

"When schoolmates asked, 'What happened to your lip?' I'd tell them I'd fallen and cut it on a piece of glass. Somehow it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different. I was convinced that no one outside my family could love me.

There was, however, a teacher in the second grade whom we all adored - Mrs. Leonard by name. She was short, round, happy - a sparkling lady. Annually we had a hearing test. ... Mrs. Leonard gave the test to everyone in the class, and finally it was my turn. I knew from past years that as we stood against the door and covered one ear, the teacher sitting at her desk would whisper something, and we would have to repeat it back - things like "The sky is blue" or "Do you have new shoes?"

I waited there for those words that God must have put into her mouth, those seven words that changed my life. Mrs. Leonard said, in her whisper, "I wish you were my little girl."

Oh how God loves you and me. And He pledges to us that now that we belong to Him because of faith in Christ Jesus, we will never be separated again. God knows you and wants you.

3. God made me.

Psalm 139:13–18 ESV

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

Think about the importance of these words church. It was God who (put us together) knit you together in your mother's womb. This is a picture of the intricate attention to detail to life.

Think about a seamstress as she creates a garment one thread at a time. All the little details matter.

And notice that phrase in v. 14 where David writes, "I have been remarkably and wonderfully made." The adverbs in that sentence make it very clear to us that after God made you, He threw away the mold. You are totally unique, a one-of-a-kind person, you are fashioned with awe-inspiring skill by the Almighty God right down to your fingerprint. Again let me say this. Your life matters to God and it even matters to Him before you are born.

(Talk quickly about abortion)

I know today that some of you may not like what you see in the mirror, but God does not make any junk.

He gave you a personality, innate abilities, spiritual gifts, and a particular purpose that sets you apart for Him. You are His treasured creation, made in His likeness. God knows you. He wants you. He made you

4. God has plans for me.

Psalm 139:19–24 ESV

Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

The last part of this Psalm is different in some ways and yet exactly the same as the beginning. David calls on God to take care of the wicked. He can not stand those who are against God and wants God to get rid of them. We are not for sure exactly what has taken place here, but maybe these enemies of God have been people who have hurt and come against King David. In this conflict and hostility, David speaks in trust and thankfulness for God’s presence. Psalm 139 closes with the same words as we began with. David says, “Search me out and know me.” The difference here is that the first time we see this in verses 1-2 it is in the indicative mood. This means it is pointing out why its there. But here in verse 23 the words are imperative. This means it is necessary or urgent that we leave it there.

Now come back with me to verses 16-18. David says all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began. God, how difficult Your thoughts are for me [to comprehend] ; how vast is the sum of them.

David says that the script for our life was already written by God, that the Lord has carefully mapped the details that will fill our days, ordaining what will and will not happen. God has created each day of my life, tailoring circumstances, establishing boundaries, and fashioning opportunities for His glory and my good.

But God doesn't just set the plan in motion and look the other way. His thoughts are on us constantly. He greets us each morning with fresh mercy and new opportunities, ready to go through the hours with us. He loves our company, and want us to meet with Him.

Conclusion

He knows you. He pursues you. He made you with a purpose, and is ready to live out those plans with you each day. Will you allow yourself to hear His still, small voice?

Illustration: This is a $100 bill. If I offered it to you, you would take it. But what if I ball it up and throw it on the ground - would you still want it? What if they stepped on it, kicked it, and even spit on it? Could you still go to the store and spend it?

Yes. This bill has value because of what it is, not because of how it looks, where it's been, or what it's been used for. A crisp, clean $100 bill is worth the same amount as an ugly, older, more used one.

You may feel like you've been stepped on, beat up, or kicked around. You may feel dirty, unworthy, or useless. Just know this - you matter to God.

Maybe your parents have said words that ring in your ears to this day; or they didn't say the words you were longing to hear! Maybe your spouse has rejected you, verbally, emotionally, or physically. Don't let what another human does define you. Don't draw conclusions about yourself based on them. Look higher - You matter to God so much He sent His Son for you. You belong to Him, you are cherished by Him, and you are His - forever!