The God Who Sees: Living Honestly Before the All-Knowing One
Key Passages
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.” — Proverbs 15:3 (NASB)
“Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, how much more the hearts of mankind!” — Proverbs 15:11 (NASB)
“All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight, but the Lord examines the motives.” — Proverbs 16:2 (NASB)
There is both comfort and conviction in knowing that God sees everything. Nothing escapes His gaze—no action, no word, no secret thought. That truth can unsettle us when our hearts wander, but it can also bring deep peace when we feel misunderstood or unseen.
These verses from Proverbs remind us that God’s awareness is not distant or detached. He sees the evil and the good. He looks not only at our deeds but at our desires. He weighs not only what we do, but why we do it.
Let’s explore two powerful lessons that flow from these truths.
1. God Sees the Words, Actions, and Motives of Everyone Everywhere
Proverbs 15:3 tells us, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place.” There is no hiding from His presence, no corner of creation where His sight does not reach. King David expressed this same reality in Psalm 139:7-12:
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.”
We often think of God’s omniscience only in terms of knowledge—He knows everything. But Proverbs pushes us further: God’s sight is personal and moral. He is watching—not as a passive observer, but as a holy and loving Father who cares deeply about what His children do.
That means every conversation, every decision, every motive lies open before Him. Nothing we whisper in secret, nothing we plan in private, is hidden from His eyes. As Hebrews 4:13 puts it:
“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.”
For some, that thought feels heavy—like living under constant surveillance. But for the believer who walks with God, it is an invitation to integrity. We do not need to pretend or perform, because we are already fully known.
God sees every act of quiet faithfulness that others overlook. He hears every prayer whispered in tears. He notices every small step of obedience that receives no applause. Jesus said, “Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4, NASB)
So yes—God sees when we sin, but He also sees when we strive to do right. He is not a distant judge waiting to condemn; He is a compassionate Father who searches our hearts for the faintest pulse of repentance and belief.
Knowing that God sees all things calls us to live transparently before Him. It frees us from the exhausting game of appearances. We can live with sincerity, not image management—because we serve the God who sees truly.
2. Everyone Can Justify Their Actions, but God Examines Motives
Proverbs 16:2 captures a truth that pierces human nature:
“All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight, but the Lord examines the motives.”
How easily we convince ourselves that we are right! We excuse sharp words because we “meant well.” We justify impatience because we “had a good reason.” We cloak pride in “confidence,” selfishness in “self-care,” or compromise in “wisdom.”
Jeremiah 17:9 gives the diagnosis:
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Only God truly can. Jeremiah continues in verse 10:
“I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, to give to each person according to his ways.”
Our self-evaluations are notoriously unreliable. We are masters of self-justification. We can rationalize almost anything if it protects our image or preserves our comfort. But God looks beneath the surface. He sees not just the action but the ambition behind it—the hidden “why” that drives us.
Jesus revealed this same truth when He rebuked the Pharisees. Outwardly, they appeared righteous, but inwardly they were filled with pride and hypocrisy (Matthew 23:27-28). They performed good deeds for public recognition, not for God’s glory. Their motives corrupted their actions.
God does not merely grade us by our outward performance; He weighs the condition of the heart. As 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us:
“For God sees not as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
That truth calls us to self-examination—not with fear, but with humility. David prayed, “Search me, God, and know my heart; put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23-24, NASB)
What a courageous prayer that is! David invited the all-seeing God to reveal hidden motives, to expose false righteousness, and to realign his heart with God’s purposes.
When we open our hearts this way, the Spirit gently shows us where pride has crept in, where self-interest has disguised itself as service, or where fear has masked itself as caution. The goal is not condemnation but purification—that our actions may spring from sincere love for God and others.
The Comfort of Being Fully Known
For those who walk in faith, the knowledge that God sees everything is not meant to crush us, but to anchor us. It means our relationship with Him is built on reality, not illusion. We do not have to hide or pretend.
When we stumble, we can confess quickly, knowing He already knows. When we do good and no one notices, we can rest in His approval, knowing He saw.
There is an old saying: “Character is who you are when no one is watching.” But the truth for the believer is deeper—someone is always watching, and that Someone loves you perfectly.
The eyes of the Lord are not searching for reasons to condemn, but for hearts that are wholly His.
“For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chronicles 16:9, NASB)
Living in the Light
When we remember that God sees both our motives and our actions, we begin to live differently. We stop measuring ourselves by human comparison and start measuring by divine truth. We become more honest in confession, more gracious in judgment, and more intentional in integrity.
Instead of asking, “How do I look to others?” we learn to ask, “How do I appear before God?”
That perspective changes everything. It produces humility, purity, and peace.
So let’s live each day aware that God’s eyes are upon us—not as a threat, but as a blessing. Let’s invite Him to purify our motives, correct our blind spots, and strengthen our desire to please Him in all things.
A Prayer for Today
Father, You see all things—my actions, my words, and even my motives. Thank You that Your gaze is not cold or condemning, but loving and true. Search my heart and show me where I deceive myself. Help me to walk with integrity before You, to act out of pure love for You, and to find comfort in being fully known and fully loved. May every thought and deed bring honor to Your name. Amen.