Psalm 139:1-2 – O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. (NLT)

Regardless of how many times that I explained the concept, some continued to misunderstand and make mistakes.

Correctly punctuating compound sentences — or independent clauses — was one of the simplest yet most difficult concepts that I taught in Language Arts. The rule was simple: when two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction, a comma must precede the conjunction. In order for an independent clause to be claimed as such, it must have a subject, verb, and a complete thought — not just a verb and a few prepositional phrases.

It was the latter that confused many students. Many of them would place a comma when the sentence was actually a simple sentence with compound verbs. Others would mistake the word "then" for a coordinating conjunction and place a comma. I spilled much red ink when correcting papers that related to correctly punctuating compound sentences. Although I explained the concept in every imaginable way, the rule often didn't sink in. Their failure to understand cost them many unnecessary mistakes.

I, too, have failed to understand concepts when I was in school. My misunderstanding was more in math than English classes, though. More worrisome is being misunderstood by others. The psalmist was confident that God understood him. After all, God had created him. He knew everything about him, even his innermost thoughts.

Failing to understand a concept and being misunderstood by others aren't pleasant. Both can lead to frustration. I've taught students who practically gave up, and I've known people who struggled with depression because others just didn't "get" them.

Since God made me, He knows everything about me. He knows the things that I struggle with — the hard subject, the unpleasant work atmosphere, the tough relationship, the co-dependent friend, the addiction. He doesn't have to hear me voice my frustrations, because He knows my thoughts. He understands me.

There will always be things that I don't understand, as well as some who don't understand me. I can live with that as long as my Creator is by my side, guiding me along life's journey. He's the friend who will never leave, who will always comfort, and who will forever understand.

Let each of one of us take comfort in knowing that God understands when no one else does.

Prayer: Father, thank You for creating us and for understanding everything about us. Amen.

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Martin Wiles <mandmwiles@gmail.com>
Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
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