Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Shauna: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. I wonder, when you were a teenager, did you ever have an experience similar to Joni’s like this?

Joni Eareckson Tada: When I was a 16-year-old rushing out of the house to meet my friends, I would invariably be stopped at the back door by my father, who would look at me and say, “Joni, I want you to act as though someone were always watching. Don’t forget, you’re an Eareckson.” Now, I knew what he meant and sure, I was proud to be an Eareckson. I knew that name meant something in our neighborhood, but Daddy’s comment irked me.

I didn’t want to live as though someone were looking over my shoulder and peeking into my life, observing everything I was doing. There were private teenage things I wanted to keep hidden. Besides, I wanted to be me, especially when I hung out with my friends at the Varsity Drive-In restaurant. What an embarrassment to have some friend of my father’s encroach on my Saturday night turf and say, “Hi there, how’s your dad doing?”

But now, many, many years later, I am comforted by the idea that I ought to live as though someone were always looking. It’s an incentive to live an honest, responsible life. Besides, someone is watching. Your life and mine are an open book before the Lord. Genesis chapter 16, verse 13 says, “You are the God who sees me.” Now, if you love the works of darkness, that idea will embarrass you. It’ll irk you, make you feel uncomfortable.

But if you love the light, the idea that God never takes his eyes off you will be a comfort. For those who are obedient, the watchful eye of God always seems tender, always protecting, safe, and guiding. For those who disobey, the open book of your life makes you squirm with resentment and embarrassment. God is the God who sees you, who sees me.

Now, how and to what extent does he see you? Hebrews chapter 4, verse 13 says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Whoa, that is some verse. Because there are often times when I am careful not to labor on a bad thought or even give it voice, thinking that God does not know about it.

If I don’t articulate it, then the coast is clear, right? But even in the darkest crevices in your heart and my heart, the farthest thoughts in the back of my mind, all of it, everything is uncovered and laid bare before the Lord. So there’s no use trying to hide from God.

I remind you of this not to make you feel fearful. Fear must never be an incentive to obey, for it will only breed rule-keeping behavior and that is burdensome, right? You and I have no need to fear the watchful eye of God, but draw comfort from his scrutiny into your life.

Shauna: Oh friend, I sure do love this story. The God who sees is one of my favorite names for God, and that’s just one of the many names our God is referred to in the Bible. So why not do a quick search of the names of God and incorporate your favorites into your prayers? Then go to joniradio.org and tell us which name of God most resonates with you.

And finally, let God protect you. Let him guard you. Let him keep you safe with his watchful eye. And today, pray with me. Lord, see me and know my every thought and action. I invite you to look into everything I do today, everything I decide or say. Watch me please, and may your steady and loving gaze be my incentive to love you steadily in return. In Jesus' mighty name, amen.