Unseen
Unheard
Invisible
Irrelevant
Lonely
All words to describe feelings that I wrestle with more often than I’d like to admit. However, I think that if we’re being honest with ourselves, most of us would have to admit to dealing with these same feelings. It’s amazing that in a world that allows us to be more connected than ever, (I mean how often do we post, snap and tweet) that we can still feel so incredibly alone. It’s like plugging a lamp into an outlet that’s not receiving any power. Sure, it’s connected, but there is no energy flowing. The lamp lacks the power that comes from the connection.
We have so many empty connections in our lives. We are tied to people and things that keep us busy, without really adding any value and at the end of the day, we are still unfulfilled. We’re burnt out and feeling like no one sees it. No one looks beyond the smile to see the fatigue and the fear and the barely contained tears. No one understands that you sit up at night wondering ‘Is this life?’. There is no one who sees you fighting each day to just keep putting one more foot in front of the other.
But God…
One of my favorite verses is a simple one that comes when Hagar is fleeing the jealousy of Sarai (Sarah). Hagar is alone by a spring in the desert when an angel of the Lord visits her and at the end of their conversation, she says “You are the God who sees me….” (Gen. 16:13). Later in Genesis, Hagar is once again in the desert and fearing that she and her son will die there. An angel of the Lord once again speaks to her and this time tells her “…Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying….” (Gen. 21:17)
Oh, to be seen and heard by God.
To know that in the depths of our uncertainty He sees, He hears, and He loves us still. Hagar wasn’t the main player in the story of Abraham and Sarah, however, she was still on God’s radar. So, even when you’re feeling like a footnote in your own story, the Author knows you’re there and there is an exceeding and abundant plan for your life.
When you are burned out, depleted, sad and alone, check your connection, because I promise God is still checking for you.
I am not alone.
You are not alone.
We’re Never Alone.
