You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. Psalm 139:1-4, NIV

A few weeks ago, I promised several of my students that I would come to their 8th-grade football night. In the meantime, my family was hit with some devastating news that my 35-year-old cousin had taken his life via an overdose. So when the time came for the football game, I wasn’t sure if I could force myself to go. But I knew I had made them a promise, and I needed to keep it. 

I got to the game just in time as they began introducing the boys. We situated ourselves at the end of the field where they were warming up at the goalpost. They approached me as a herd and began hugging me one by one across the fence. I tried deciphering faces through helmets and visors, but I couldn’t tell who was who. So I grabbed one of the boys by his face mask, pulled him to me, and said, “I can’t tell which one you are with this helmet on!” He laughed and said “It’s me, _______!” Then all the boys followed suit, telling me who they were under their helmets. 

Isn’t it amazing that the God of our universe knows us by name? He knows us under the helmets, the hats, the costumes, the sunglasses, and the visors. He doesn’t have to pull us close and ask, “Who are you under there?!?” He already knows. He knows our struggles and loves us through them anyway. 

This experience also made me realize the beautiful ways God uses others to heal our hearts. People say, “Not everything is a God thing.” But my Bible teaches me in the book of James that every good and perfect gift is from above. This was good. It was good for me. Good for my aching heart. Good for my soul. So yes, this was a God thing. He knew exactly what I needed, and He used my students—whether they realized it or not—to do it. 

I usually don’t share personal stories like this. I tend to keep it to myself, but I won’t put what God does for me in a box. I’m putting it on full display because He deserves it. He deserves the glory for all things.

Heavenly Father, I’m thankful You know us all by name. I thank You for the work You continue to do in our lives. As we speak, let our words be a reflection of Your kingdom. I pray that we continue to seek You and Your will for our future. Let us continue to share Your love so that we may be able to reach others. Amen. 

Copyright Latisha Hamblin.

Latisha is a middle school science teacher and First Priority leader in Kentucky.