Know and Be Known

It is a wonderful thing to “know and be known” in the context of human relationships. When you can truly let your guard down without fear and make yourself vulnerable to someone else, knowing they will love and value you despite your flaws… well, that’s something beautiful.

Bosom buddies, soulmates, kindred spirits… In a blog post, musician and writer Allison Lynn noted, “When we start to see other creators as kindred spirits, and not as competition, we find freedom from the shackles of jealousy and bitterness.” Such powerful words!

Sharing our inner thoughts can be a scary prospect. It requires a certain amount of “letting your guard down” and certainly makes one vulnerable. We are exposing ourselves to the world with the knowledge that there are risks. We might even get hurt. Not everyone is going to love our stories, our style, or our opinions. Some might even be cruel in their criticism. I suppose you could say this is the “being known” part. If I want people to actually read what I’ve written, these are risks I must take.

However, we must also “know” what our calling is and be secure in that. That’s why I believe a certain amount of introspection is necessary for every writer. It helps us focus on what we are called to do, not just follow the latest trend. As Allison said, I can celebrate other writers while following my own unique path.

It is easy to second-guess ourselves, especially when things don’t turn out as we’d imagined. We might ask, “Did I hear God wrong?” However, “Hurdles are not stop signs!” (A direct quote from my friend Tandy!) Obstacles can actually help us grow and mature, as long as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Whatever God has called you to do, rest in the knowledge that He has a plan and purpose for your life that is GOOD. Know your own worth as a child of God. Our worth doesn’t come from anything we do. It comes from the simple truth that He created us in His image, and that is enough.

“…you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God…” Galatians 4:9

Segments of this article originally appeared on the InScribe Writers’ Online blog in November of 2023.