“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
When’s the last time you felt overlooked? When’s the last time you WERE overlooked? This week? Me, too! There are moments in everyone’s life when they feel unseen and insignificant. You know you are dong your best and no one takes a moment to speak a word of encouragement to you. They don’t notice your efforts to serve or to please. Every day just seems to be another exercise in perseverance. You keep trying to make the best possible choice, but no one seems to care. If that describes you, It can be easy to focus on all that and start to become frustrated, hurt, angry. If you don’t guard your attitude you might find a bitter, resentful bud beginning to blossom. Not very attractive!
Maybe you are even asking yourself if God sees you. Does God really care? YES!! Emphatically. YES!!!! When you feel like no one else sees you or appreciates you, take comfort in the truth that you have a Father who sees you, knows you, loves you and IS working on your behalf. Really!
How do you deal with unseen seasons? What do you do when you feel like you are living an invisible, unappreciated life? Remember that Jesus is our example of how to live for what matters and let go of what doesn’t. How did He handle being overlooked and misunderstood?
Jesus lived an unappreciated life, but was laser-focused on one task. Even though His earthly life was unappreciated and people didn't get what He was doing or why, He didn’t try to explain Himself or make them understand. His best efforts to demonstrate God’s love and fulfill God’s purposes were met with confusion or opposition. He was misunderstood by those closest to Him and marked for destruction by those who hated Him. Yet, He never wavered from the task that God had called Him to. He wasn’t looking for approval from people. He didn’t get sidetracked trying to get others on board. He didn’t try to get others to understand or support Him. He simply kept moving forward to complete the assignment the Father had given Him.
Jesus wasn’t distracted by the disagreements. He kept to His course. No one in Jesus’ life really understood Him and they often tried to convince Him to handle things differently. His brothers made fun of Him. (John 7:1-5) His family even thought He was crazy and came to try and remove Him from the public eye. (Mark 3:20-21) How’s that for being unappreciated?! But He didn’t take the time to speak with them and try to convince them otherwise. (Mark 3: 31-35) He didn’t stop preaching, teaching or healing. He kept His eyes focused toward the cross.
Did it hurt to be rejected and unappreciated? Jesus had human emotions. If we minimize the hurt, we minimize His sacrifice. He hurt just like you do! He understands how you feel. (Hebrews 4: 14-16) He has compassion towards you and I and wants to offer us the strength to persevere and help us to keep our eyes on the only prize that matters: the Father’s glory.
Jesus knew that He was seen by the One person that really mattered: His Father. So are you. What kept Jesus moving forward and giving His best efforts when no one seemed to understand Him? He lived for a Father who loved Him. His efforts weren’t for the crowd, for His disciples or even for His immediate family. He wasn’t living to please any of them. He didnt need their approval to feel secure about His identity or to encourage Him in His purpose. He had only one goal in mind. Please the Father. Fulfill the Father’s purpose. Complete the mission for which He was sent.
Oh, there were moments of public approbration (like His entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.) or even moments of understanding (like when Peter declared, “You are the Christ…”) but on the whole it might have seemed like His whole life was a wasted, unseen, unappreciated effort. But Jesus remembered Whose eyes He most wanted to see Him. He only cared that He was seen by His Father.
Jesus knew what the purpose of His life was, the Father’s will and glory. Nothing deterred Him from that. Jesus chose to act for God’s eyes only. That is how He lived for what matters and let go of what doesn’t. That’s the example He set for you and me. He lived for God’s pleasure and God’s glory, not the approbation and praise of people. As a result, God exalted Him. As a result He pleased the Father’s heart. As a result He fulfilled the purpose He was sent for. As a result you and I can live in a restored relationship with God.
I have experienced the disappointment and pain of feeling unseen and unappreciated. I have spent emotional and mental energy in conversations that never happened trying to make myself seen to others, but I don’t do that anymore. At least, not too often. I have been learning to live for the Eyes that see all. Living for the Father’s pleasure and glory makes my small, unseen life worthwhile. He promises future heavenly rewards. That’s true. (2 Corinthians 4:18) But it’s the present awareness of His pleasure and presence that infuses my days with a sense of meaning, purpose and satisfaction. I’d love for you to experience that, My Friend. I’d love for you to experience the security of knowing, really knowing, that you matter to your Heavenly Father.
Whose eyes matter most to you? Remember in your struggle to be seen that you have a Father who sees you, knows you and loves you. You are not unseen. You are not unappreciated. Your efforts really do matter. They really do!
Key thought: Living for what matters means living for God’s eyes only.
A Scripture to consider: “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
A YES challenge: Whose opinions matter most to you in the decisions you make? How can you adjust your need for their approval and focus on God’s approval instead? Choose a Scripture that reminds you of this and write it on an index card or set a reminder on your phone. Commit it to memory and meditate on it in those unseen moments.
Prayer: Father, I often get distracted trying to please people. There are people in my life that I do need to consider as I make my daily choices. I need to keep in mind how what I do affects them. That is just being considerate. But I don’t need their approval in order to fulfill Your purposes for me. Help me choose to live for Your eyes only. Your opinion is the one that matters most. Thank You, Father. You see me. You know me. You love me. You are acting on my behalf. Amen.