Do you sometimes feel invisible? Have you stood in the hallway of church, work or a social event and felt your heart harden as women walk right past? Have you seen a friend and suddenly you feel like you’re both strangers? Have you ever felt like if it weren’t you reaching out, you’d never be invited to anything? Have you wondered why you’re like teflon for friendships?I have thought and felt all these things. And I’ve felt and thought them all in the last month. Does that surprise you? Did you think it was only you?
But recently God has spoken to my heart about this. There have been women in my path who have been going through terrible hurts and devastation. But I didn’t know. Why? Because I was so busy waiting to BE NOTICED that I wasn’t NOTICING the hearts of the women around me.
I was feeling the cold of hearts turned away from me but what had I done to open my heart toward them?
Jesus warns us in Matthew 7 that we are more apt to look at the speck of sawdust in our sister’s eye than pay attention to the plank in our own eye. A speck of sawdust is a fraction of a plank. So what we are seeing in others is a small fraction of what we are putting out into the world around us.
If you’re struggling with feeling received and loved, take a moment to ask God to help you get over yourself. And ask God to guide you toward women who need what YOU can give. Pray for the women in front of you and God will reveal how your hearts are connected in ways you can’t imagine. Let’s not waste the divine appointments God has lined up because we somehow feel lost, wounded, or unnoticed. Your Heavenly Father sees you just as he sees the women he has placed beside you.
So be the first to look up. Be the first to smile. Be the first to step out. Be the first to break down the wooden wall of how we each struggle to belong. And what you give you will receive.
Do you feel drained? In promises gone missing? In hurt deep? I’ve been there. When you subscribe to my blog posts, you’ll receive my 7-Day Devotional, Praying to Move Mountains, FREE. I’ve walked the journey of pain, and this devotional was birthed from it. Don’t worry, at the most you get one email from me a week and I don’t sell or advertise my subscriber list. GET THE DEVOTIONAL
This is so great, Erin. Thank you for taking the time to share.
I was at a conference tonight dreading the before and after chit chat. (I’m not shy at all, but am an introvert and I dread small talk! I’d rather be alone or be best friends or even just up on stage preaching. LOL) I sat in my seat deciding that I would look for someone who needed noticing after the session was over, rather than being the person waiting for someone to notice me. Of course at the end of the night one gal and I were the last in the auditorium—she had tears streaming down her face after pouring her heart out and letting me pray for her about a very personal situation. It was such a beautiful and humbling reminder that when we take our focus off of ourself our eyes are opened to the world and to see where God is moving. Ahhh, exhale. God is so kind.
Adriel,
Thank you so much for sharing this! You are so right. I struggle sometimes with putting myself out there – believe it or not – but when we put ourselves aside we become powerhouses for God’s work.