4 things to remember when you feel invisible
Have you ever felt invisible in a sea of people?
Do you battle the feelings that crawl in when someone forgets to thank you or doesn't even appreciate your effort?
It's easy to feel unseen, unappreciated and invisible in a world that craves recognition.
There is a part of us that longs to be seen and appreciated by those we love or even for our presence.
I don’t think there’s anyone on this earth who doesn’t want to be valued or loved for who they are and what they say.
About four years ago, I discovered my innate desire to be seen and acknowledged when I thought I had done something for a friend.
When she acknowledged others and failed to acknowledge me, I grew upset in my heart.
The offense suddenly rose within me. I didn't even know I could be so hurt about being ignored.
I felt invisible and underappreciated.
I'm sure if you'd asked me before then, I would have boldly declared I couldn't be bothered.
Until it happened and I realized talk is cheap. Walking in the Spirit is expensive.
Anyone can say they don't care, but God sees our hearts.
In my waiting season, God cured and is still curing my desire to be seen and acknowledged. I'm learning to be okay without being in the spotlight. I'm learning that if God says I will be made to look invisible on some days, I should be fine with it.
Because the real glory lies in the unseen. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2corinthians4:18
Are you scared you will not be appreciated for your work? Or you're worried you’d die without leaving a mark on earth?
Do you fight the desire to be out there, making a name for yourself and doing things for people to acknowledge you
Then this post is for you. God wants you to know the following truths;
Remember that God sees you, and this is enough
Jesus went to the cross and no one applauded him except for the Father
Jesus grew up being unseen until the age of 30. But he thrived. He lived his best life because God saw him in his unseen moments.
He went to the cross because He'd learned to please God above himself and the thoughts of others.
Men are fickle. They'd praise you today and turn against you tomorrow.
So you cannot keep seeking their validation from the minds of natural men.
It is inaccurate to do so.
But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew all men. He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.
John 2:24-25
So whenever you feel invisible and unappreciated, remember God sees you and appreciates your presence in the body of Christ.
He's the greatest Judge without bias and he will reward you at the right time.
Just keep doing it for his sake, even when no one sees your effort.
Your BECOMING is FAR more important to God than your doing
It’s easy to fall into the trap of doing when God is more interested in your becoming.
Why? Because your heart is the Operating System (OS) of your life. Whatever you produce outwardly stems from within.
So it’s only normal for God to prioritize working in your heart because he loves tackling roots.
When God desires you sit at his feet to learn of Him and serve him behind the scenes, he’s not trying to punish you.
He’s saving you.
Whenever you feel invisible and unappreciated, never forget this!
When it is winter, everywhere looks gloomy and dark. No one sees the beautiful trees and flowers taking root in the soil and hiding deep within. They are all invisible. But in summer, they spring out displaying all their colours for all to see.
This is what becoming does to your soul.
Your invisibility is your opportunity to grow faster
When God hides you away from the spotlight, you tend to grow faster.
Why?
Because less distractions are vying for your attention.
As you read your bible, pray and incline your ear to Christ-centric messages, you’re focused on one thing alone.
God.
You are not reading your bible because you want to preach to people or share revelation with others but you’re reading it for yourself.
Neither are you studying the word because you want to share revelation with others
But because you would like to know more about the God that birthed you.
Christ is being formed in you in the Hiding place.
God sees you when you feel invisible and he's molding you within.
This is because it is the growth within you that will stand the test of time in the future to come.
Ministry can be distracting especially for those who aren’t fully developed.
Paul had a ministry but also ran his race.
He could run his race well because he was spiritually matured.
Paul was a New Testament Apostle, trusted by God to write the epistles that could form Christ in men.-1Thessalonians 2:4-6.
It means he was no ordinary man.
Because God had worked on Him in the hiding place.
Stephen was a deacon serving others (waiting tables). He was hidden for years and grew so fast and well in the unseen.
When it was time for him to minister, he did it ONLY ONCE.
He wasn’t doing it because he wanted his name out there, but because he was led to.
Stephen was so matured he prayed for his murderers. This shows he’d attained Christlikeness to an extent.
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
His heart caused the heavens to open.
That kind of heart doesn’t happen by magic. It takes solid growth.
And this happens when you're invisible.
When you feel invisible, remember you solely exist for His glory
God hid Jesus for thirty years.
God hid David for thirteen years.
He hid Moses for forty years.
And there are others whom God will keep hiding until Jesus returns.
There were men and women in the Bible that never went to the field like the other apostles but were content in being invisible, obeying God behind the scenes.
We need to understand that God isn’t going to send everyone out to preach in public.
For some, they will work in the open.
For others, God would hide them so as to save their souls.
Please don’t envy those called out to the spotlight.
It takes extra effort to do ministry in the public eye while ensuring you’re on track with God.
Because the gift of God is without repentance, you could keep ‘blessing’ people and yet be walking in error.
But if you mess up in private, you can correct your ways and move on.
If you mess up in public, it’s harder to repent.
You might even feel proud or ashamed to turn back if you’re going in the wrong way.
Whenever you feel invisible, don't see it as a curse but a blessing.
Don’t feel bad or disadvantaged if God wants you to serve him unseen.
Not all of your obedience to God will be seen yet God is more interested in those because He’s the only one who knows about it.
He knows you’re not doing it to show others, but for his eyes alone.
You’re doing it with or without earthly reward.
Because when your motive is for others to see you, then you no longer have God's reward.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward
Matthew 6:2
I do hope this has encouraged you to celebrate your Unseen moments.
Because this is when Christ is more glorified in You.
Bloom with Love. Xx!