Have you ever been searched by airport security? Depending on where you’ve traveled, it can be quite an ordeal.

I’ve had the American search, which is a light tapping on your body. It takes a couple of seconds and you’re on your way. But I’ve also had the Ghanaian search, which is one step short of a cavity search. Let’s put it this way, the woman knew far more about me than anyone else in Ghana.

The purpose for the search is for safety measures. They are looking for things they couldn’t find with the naked eye. They’re looking to see if you’ve hidden something in unlikely places. They want to make sure you aren’t carrying something that could hurt others. Once you get the “all clear” then you are free to go on your way.

Psalm 139:1 says,

O LORD, You have searched me and You know me.”

God searches us, but there’s a big difference between Him and airport security. He pretty much does everything differently than we do, thankfully [Isaiah 55:8].

1. He is gentle [1 Kings 19:12, Zechariah 9:9].
2. He searches for things that could harm us, such as sin or lies we’ve believed. Many times the thing that keeps us from all God has for us isn’t our own sin. We confess that quickly. It is the lies the enemy has told us that we believe is truth. He tells us lies about ourselves and lies about others. John 8:44 says, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
3. He searches more than our body. He searches our hearts and minds as well. Psalm 138:2 says, “You perceive my thoughts from afar.”

God doesn’t do His search so he can punish us or lock us up.

God searches us so He can set us free.

If He finds anything that isn’t supposed to be there, He will lovingly deal with it and send us on our way.

David cries our in Psalm 51 for the Lord to search him and cleanse him from his sins because he understands this is something only God can do. David doesn’t fear the search of the Lord, he welcomes it. He requests the same thing in Psalm 139:23

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”

David isn’t some psycho who loves pain. He knows the Lord’s search is done in love and for our benefit. He knows the Lord’s search brings healing.

What about you? Are you hiding something in the back corners of your heart, afraid to let the Lord see it? Do you fear His reaction? He loves you and He wants to uncover it so it will lose power over you. It is for your good, not to harm you [Jeremiah 29:11]. Why not ask Him to search you today?