Do You Feel Invisible?

As my dad stood in line at the bank, he certainly felt less than. Taller people surrounded him, and the bank teller towered above him on an exalted platform. The bank teller called the person behind him Next. Dad spoke up and said: I know that I am short, but I am not invisible. That brief statement said a lot about the internal struggles of Dad and most of us. We are insecure and fully aware of our limitations and shortcomings. It is the cry of most of us who, at times, feel invisible and want to be heard, seen, and embraced.

Dad was also physically handicapped from WW II. He had a very noticeable limp and walked in pain most of his life. When he talked about his life, he talked about the war, marriage, children, and faith. I believe these were the times he felt most seen and heard. Most of us feel invisible at times. We feel unheard, devalued, insignificant, or even worse, without value. I am not referring to a humble spirit but rather a wounded spirit.

Have you ever been in a crowd or small group and felt invisible? Soon, the feeling of being insignificant can drive you to isolation. You begin to withdraw from friends, co-workers, and even family. In isolation, you at least don’t have to feel invisible to others, and besides, you become in charge of the isolation. If you don’t want to see me, okay, take that. This isolation can lead to depression, acting out, and other undesirable results.

From the beginning of Creation, God has said it is not good for us to be alone. He created the family, society, and community. The person who withdraws instinctively knows this is the wrong move; however, woundedness drives them to protect and isolate. No one wants the wounds reopened. For the Christian, our Lord has established the Church for support and community. The Christian life was never intended to be lived solo.

I understand that wounds can come from the local church and that some recent stories are not encouraging; however, there are some great churches out there! Places to grow. Places to have fellowship. A place to live the Christian life in the community as intended. Just think of the prayer the Lord taught the disciples. Notice our, us, and we, it is a community prayer.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.   
                                            (Matthew 6, NIV)

People often mistake timidity and insecurity for humility, but woundedness is not humility. To be humble, one must be secure and confident. Be confident of this one thing: You are not invisible to God. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and comes looking for the ONE lost sheep—the one sheep no one has missed. The passage and the song about His eye being on the sparrow are still true! We often talk about finding God, but it is always He who has found us. Even when we are not searching for Him, He is searching for us.

Jesus had sent the disciples over to the other side of the lake in Mark 6:45-50, and he went up to the mountainside to pray. It was evening, and the disciples were straining as the winds came up, and guiding the boat was difficult. They could not see Jesus, for he was up on the mountainside, but Mark 6:48 tells us he saw the disciples straining at the oars. The thing to remember is this:

• The disciples were in God’s will and doing what Jesus told them to do.
• They still faced adverse conditions.
• Jesus saw their trouble, but he didn’t go to them until near dawn.
• Jesus came walking on the water and would have passed by, but they called to him though they thought he was a spirit.

God is watching you. He sees you straining. He may be on his way now to deliver you. Be ready to call out to him. You are never alone when you have Jesus. He sees you!

James D. Allen

Overflowinghope180.com