This post is for those who aren’t getting the recognition they desire, some food for thought, if you will.
To be overlooked is to go unnoticed, to be unseen, invisible. To give up is to cease to make an effort, surrender, admit defeat.
Many of us have tried new things, acted as we felt God had led us to and taken leaps of faith, all for it to amount to what seems like nothing. It could be that you own a small business, write, sing, play an instrument as good or even better than the next person but you just aren’t getting the recognition they are…so you give up. Let me stop and highlight the first and most dangerous vice in this instance, comparison. Comparison as they say, is the thief of joy and if you have ever compared yourself you know how true this really is.
To be overlooked by man is damaging to self esteem, we desire recognition and appreciation for what we do. It’s natural but when we begin to overlook our selves that’s when the real trouble begins, we won’t go for those opportunities, we wont take those leaps of faith. King David, pre-kingship, is the perfect example of someone who was overlooked yet in God’s perfect vision. Samuel was directed by God to go to the house of a certain man with many sons. As soon as the prophet took one look at the first son he thought ‘well that was easy, it must be him.’ It was at that point God made His criteria clear, it’s the heart that matters.
Do not look at his appearance or his physical stature for I have rejected him. For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16 vs 7
David was not even considered by his own father, yet God had him in mind. God drew him out from where he was tending the sheep and with pride told Samuel, ”this is the one!’ What we must remember is that David did not begin his reign at this very moment, there were still years of diligence, hate filled pursuit and tests of character to come. How can you relate this to your life right now? How willing are you to tend sheep before you can reign?
The heart.
If your heart is not right in the small things you have been entrusted with, there is no way it will magically get right when bigger opportunities come. David was diligent in what he was given to do. His actions and obedience caused him to be in the right place at the right time even if the right place was obscurity. Are you willing to serve as an unknown? Sometimes I think ‘but God I should be so much further than this, I should be doing this and that and this’ however the things God has given me to do I’m neglecting, waiting for bigger to really show myself. Why? That is a heart that will be ravaged by pride, God knows that so He is training me to be ready for that good work He set out for me long before time began. Search your heart, what are the vices that can hinder you when/if you get into the limelight?
So do those who are further along than me have a better heart?
This is not necessarily the case. God’s ways are mysterious and sometimes we understand the why later, other times we just have to accept that we may never know. One thing that I hold on to when my work or efforts seem to go unnoticed is that the process is important too. Am I allowing my journey to shape me and draw me closer to the Father or am I giving up, throwing my toys out of the pram and doing it my way or not doing it at all? One way leads to reward, the other leads to further delay.
There is nothing too small that we can do to the glory of God. That should be our ‘why.’ I sing to the glory of God, I do hair to the glory of God, I write, make music, teach, recruit, personal shop etc, to the glory of God. This will keep us going, whether our audience/customers are 1 or 1 million, if this is our why we will be fulfilled, if God is the center He will take us where we need to go, hold on!