Search Me, O God
When courage is more than standing against obvious trouble
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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!
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
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This…
yeah…
This is a hard prayer to pray.
Not only is the Psalmist calling out for God to search him and know his heart (a brave & intimate prayer), but he’s asking to be tested by God, too!
Perhaps the most famous test of faith is Job.
It wasn’t that Job walked around asking God to test him. No, in that case it was Satan walking around looking to cause some trouble and God says, “Have you considered my servant Job?”
Yeah, I’m pretty sure the Enemy had considered Job.
And then God lets Satan test Job out in order to show God’s own goodness & faithfulness.
It’s a good bet that the Psalmist knew the testing of Job, and still calls out for God to test him.
The only way I can think for him to have this kind of courage is by such faith in God’s goodness & faithfulness.
He must know — beyond a shadow of a doubt — that whatever testing God does, and whatever trouble God finds, will be transformed for his own good.
That’s what he asks for: lead me in the way everlasting.
He has such confidence in God that he doesn’t want to be walking any other path than the one God has for him. Even if — especially if — that requires testing of his faith.
I actually can’t remember a time when I’ve prayed for this type of request.
Like I said, it’s a hard prayer to pray.
Are you brave enough to pray it?
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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