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I am an invisible man.... I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids—and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me." (Ralph Ellison)
Have you ever felt invisible? Our culture is all about being seen. All kinds of people hire publicists and marketing agents to get/keep themselves in the public eye. Advertisers spend millions of dollars to get their products "placed" (i.e., seen) in movies. And in the "real world," where most of us live, there's the constant jockeying for position to get the boss to notice us and/or our work. I would go so far as to say many of us derive our sense of self-worth or value from whether we feel "acknowledged" by others.
But, Jesus said, "the first shall be last and the last shall be first" - the Great Reversal. (Mat 20:16) In fact, the Apostle Paul tells us to "be content with obscurity, like Christ." (Col. 3:4 Mssg) He implores us to "...be content with second place...." (Col. 3:12 Mssg) This idea is not only counter-cultural, it's contrary to human nature!
We were all born with an innate need to feel valuable. God created us with this need to be acknowledged - to feel like we are worth something to someone. However, when we determine our value by what "do" and what others say (or don’t say), we set ourselves up to be hurt, disappointed, and even disillusioned.
God's plan is that we derive our sense of self-worth from what He says about us. No object determines its own value; rather the creator of that object determines its worth. No matter what you happen to think about yourself at this moment, the truth is you were created in the image of God. Take a moment and think about that...The God who created the heavens and the earth, bent down, and from the dust of the earth, created man. Then, from man, He created woman. God valued His creation so much, that He walked and talked with them in the coolness of the Garden each evening. (Gen. 3) And, after the man and woman made the fateful decision that caused them to be cast out of the Garden, God the Father demonstrated His love and value for His creation (i.e., you) that He sent His only son, Jesus, into this world, to reconcile us back to Himself.
In light of all this,
we should never allow external circumstances (i.e., the words, actions, or inaction) of others to determine our value to God, others or ourselves. I'm not suggesting that this is easy to do! In fact, just to be totally transparent, this is something that I am presently working on in my own life. It hurts when you feel invisible. But, I find comfort from the story of Hagar in Genesis 16. (I'll let you read the story for the details!) Suffice it to say, Hagar, who had been mistreated through no fault of her own, and due to her circumstances feeling invisible and alone, finds herself in a life and death struggle for survival. It's at that point she encounters El Roi - "the God who sees me." (Gen 16:13)
He sees me. He sees you. To Him we are never invisible and to Him we are of infinite value and worth... May you find peace and encouragement in this Truth today!
