Read

Psalm 139:1 “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.”

Think

There’s a kind of joy we rarely talk about. It’s not loud or flashy. It doesn’t come from circumstances or achievements. It comes from one simple but powerful reality: being fully known—and still fully loved. Most of us spend a lot of energy trying to manage how we’re perceived. We filter our words, curate our image, hide the parts of us we think others won’t understand or accept. It’s exhausting. And underneath it all is a fear we don’t always admit: If people really knew me—if they saw everything—I’m not sure they’d still want me around.

But Psalm 139 starts with a bold and comforting truth: “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” Not just the version of you that shows up to church or leads the meeting. The real you. The anxious thoughts. The hidden habits. The past you’re still not proud of. The moments you wish you could take back. God sees it all—and he stays. That is where deep, lasting joy begins. Not in pretending you have it all together, but in knowing you don’t have to. You are fully known by the God who created you. And not only does he stay—he delights in you. Not a future version of you. Not the cleaned-up version. You.

There is so much freedom in that. Because it means you can stop hiding. You can stop hustling for acceptance. You can let down your guard in prayer. You don’t have to impress God—you just have to be honest with him. And the moment you do, something shifts. Shame loses power. Fear loosens its grip. And joy begins to rise. Joy flows from intimacy. And intimacy can’t happen without honesty. If you want a deeper, richer joy in your relationship with God, it starts by bringing your whole self into his presence. The questions. The doubts. The fears. The flaws. He already sees them—and he invites you closer.

When you know you’re fully known and still fully loved, it changes how you live. You don’t have to perform for people anymore. You don’t have to overexplain or constantly prove your worth. You become more grounded, more gracious, more generous. Why? Because you’re not living for approval—you’re living from a place of acceptance.

And that’s not just good for you. It’s good for the people around you. Joy is contagious. And people are drawn to someone who lives with nothing to hide and nothing to prove. When you live from the joy of being known by God, it makes you safer, softer, and more secure. But this kind of joy can’t be manufactured. It has to be received. And sometimes, it takes intentional stillness to get there. So today, don’t rush through your time with God. Don’t skip the silence. Let yourself be seen. Let the love of God reach into the parts of your story you’ve tried to forget. Not to shame you, but to free you. Because joy grows where grace gets in.

You don’t need to be perfect to be loved. You already are. And when that truth starts to settle in your soul, joy takes root—and it stays.

Apply

Find a quiet spot today and read Psalm 139:1–6 slowly. Then journal one area of your life you’ve been tempted to hide—from God or from others. Ask God to meet you in that place, not with condemnation, but with joy. Let being known lead you to deeper trust.

Pray

God, you know everything about me—and you haven’t walked away. Thank you for seeing me fully and still loving me completely. Help me stop hiding. Help me rest in the joy that comes from being known and accepted by you. Let that joy reshape how I see myself and others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.