Feeling Invisible

Sometimes you want to blend in and go unnoticed, or bless someone without getting the credit. But for the most part, we want people to see us, remember us, and admire our work. Sometimes, we feel invisible and unimportant. Like an Amish doll with no face.

 

When I asked people what made them feel that way, they said:

“When people only know me if I’m with my husband.” 

“When I walked into my first college lecture and sat down with 200-300 other freshman I thought, ‘Who am I? Who even cares? Who would notice if I’m here or not?’ It was overwhelming after coming from high school honor classes with less than twenty students.”

“When I was in the army. I felt like I was just a number on a list, so they could schedule me for KP duty.”

 “The first year of motherhood!” 

“When people who’ve known me for years still mispronounce my first name.”

“As a child in an abusive home I learned to be invisible from a very early age. It's become a way of life.”

“In rehab. They told us we didn’t need to thank people, and we weren’t allowed to compliment others or have any physical contact (even hugs). This was very hard for me because I grew up in an incredibly loving and encouraging family who put emphasis on praise. And human touch was also huge. It was hard for me to feel good about myself when I never heard positive feedback.” 

 

“When I was the only vender at an event whose name was not listed on the program.”

“Sometimes as a busy wife and mom I feel all I do is clean, pick up, cook, and do laundry. With everyone’s busy schedule I think it gets taken for granted all the little things moms do to keep a house going. Then I remember God gave me this family to serve and it reminds me He is watching and He notices.”

 “Most days at church I feel invisible. I don’t know why.”

“At the end of my marriage my husband would enter and exit the room without acknowledging me; talk to me without making eye contact; and lay beside me in bed without touching. He didn’t see me anymore.”

“At my last job I felt unnoticed and ignored in my department, by my supervisor and other employees. People who still work there occasionally say, ‘Hey, haven’t seen you lately.’ I haven’t worked there for eight months!”

“When I walk in the door after work and no one pauses long enough to greet me anymore.”

“When all my six children were teenagers.”

If you can relate to these examples, you know how painful it can be to feel invisible.

Hagar was Abram and Sarai’s Egyptian slave. They got tired of waiting for God to give them a child and Hagar got caught in the middle. When she got pregnant by Abram, Hagar flaunted it; Sarai mistreated her. Abram caved to his wife’s demands, and Hagar ran away to the desert. She had reason to feel angry, used, afraid, and like she didn’t matter to anyone. That’s when God did a beautiful thing.

The angel of the LORD let her know she wasn’t alone.  He told her she had a future and so did her child. He said to go back and serve her mistress. After this visit from God, she felt like she could. Hagar said, “You are the God who sees me…I have now seen the One who sees me” (Gen. 16:13). 

Sometimes we’re mistreated by God’s own people. Hagar was. When God’s plan takes too long, His people sometimes try their own way, and we make a mess. We hurt people. They end up feeling unimportant and invisible. 

Hagar started comparing herself to Sarai and enjoyed feeling superior for once; the servant had one on the mistress. But then everything fell apart. Have you ever done that and ended up losing everything?  Then, ashamed and afraid, you run away. Worries come—How will you survive? How can you go back? Does anybody care whether you live or die?

Like Hagar, we have a Heavenly Father who knows us by name. He sees who we are and everything we do. He looks on our accomplishments and efforts with parental pride and delight. He is the God who sees you; you’re not invisible.  

“You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.” Psalm 139:1

Jesus sees each of us before we know Him personally and He wants us to come to Him and be loved. “‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.’”John 1:48 

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Even when your emotions tell you no one sees you or cares what happens to you, there is One who does. And He loves you unconditionally.

#Godwhoseesme #youknowme #Iseeyou #Heknowsmyname #feelingunimportant #nooneseeswhatIdo