According the online resources, this phrase originated in the mid 1700’s when the first compound microscope was invented.

Those who follow Jesus Christ often find themselves being closely examined by others, as if we were under a microscope.

But God has a different take for examining our lives. His desire is for our benefit. He wants to help His people live in such a manner that we have peace and joy in the midst of this sinful, chaotic world. He always has our best interests in mind when He examines our lives and redirects us from sinful patterns.

King David understood that God’s intentions were for His benefit, and that is why he remarked on God’s searching of his life and then asked God to examine him in Psalm 139:1-6; 23-24:

1O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

    you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down

    and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,

    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before,

    and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my concerns.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me;

lead me in the way everlasting.

How grateful are we for God’s watchfulness over our lives? 

The following quote reminded me to be discerning when it comes to those who examine my life:

“God examines with trials, the devil examines with temptations, the world examines with persecutions.”  —Henry Smith

As already stated, God’s reasons for examining our lives are for our benefit. 

The above quote reminds us that Satan’s purposes are to find our shortcomings so he can attempt to lure us into sinful ways. 

The world examines our lives often to cause us distress. Persecution may often be the outcome of the world seeing Christ-like behavior. Family members and/or friends may reject or ridicule us. Co-workers may seek to cause us distress. 

But God will take all of that and work it for our benefit when we seek Him in the midst of all those situations.

The following passage – Romans 8:28-39 – provides many promises and much encouragement for those of us who love Jesus, and earnestly follow Him. As a result of our righteous service to God, we may therefore be recipients of the ungodly attacks of Satan and the world:

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Which promises and truths from the above Romans passage encourage you to walk with Jesus? Is there someone you might share this encouragement with so that he or she will likewise be encouraged by God?

Is Jesus your Lord and Savior?

How earnestly do you serve Him?

Are you experiencing hardship because of your zeal and commitment to Christ? If so, how are you responding to being under the microscope because you love Jesus?

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you would like to talk about Jesus and what it means to live for Him as others examine your Godly lifestyle.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.