God's Promises for When You Feel Overlooked
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. ”
When I was in my twenties, I was eager for a promotion at work. The position I wanted was within sight when my boss asked if I would remain in my current position and take on additional work in a different area. I wasn’t thrilled as the new area was tech-related, and technology and I don’t always get along. I reasoned that being a team player and taking on additional work would position me well for the promotion.
I sat through hours of training and spent entire afternoons on the phone trouble-shooting problems I didn’t care about at all. I started losing sleep over the new workload and prayed for God to move me to a better position. I was becoming more aggravated and bitter by the day.
When a change was finally announced, it didn’t involve me. A newer employee, who had been my intern, was elevated to the position I sought. I’m a fairly even-tempered person, but I completely lost it.
“God knew all along which path was best, but I hadn’t taken the time to seek His perspective.”
I slammed the door of my office and headed to a private room down the hall where I could call my husband. Hot tears streamed down my face. What had I done wrong? Why hadn’t anyone noticed my hard work? The hurt and anger threatened to consume me. Everything in my heart was screaming, “What about me?” It seemed so unfair.
When we forget whose we are, it is easy to be consumed by feelings of injustice and abandonment. We may react like a spiritual orphan, when in truth we have a loving Father who never forsakes us, never ignores our need.
Recently, I was struggling with that familiar inner-orphan feeling over a different matter. Sitting in church one Sunday, I asked God what was going on in my heart. He said, “You’re afraid of being passed over.” Ugh. That hit home.
I admitted to God that this was true and heard Him say, “When the thing I have for you presents itself, you won’t be passed over.” I knew He was right. As I took a deep breath and thanked Him for this perspective, His peace filled me.
Then I remembered that frantic phone call to my husband all those years ago—the anger, the sense of injustice. Ultimately, everything turned out fine. I eventually got a different promotion that suited me perfectly, and I’m even thankful for the tech training I never would have pursued myself. God knew all along which path was best, but I hadn’t taken the time to seek His perspective.
I’ve learned that God never wants us to feel unseen, unheard, or overlooked. He hears our heart cry, offering us comfort and guidance. When I fail to see myself as a beloved daughter, it is the inner-orphan who surfaces.
But God promises, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18) We can trust that the One who loves us most will meet us in our hour of need. We have a real Father in heaven who is near. He is not some distant, disapproving patriarch. He is love personified.
Here’s four of my favorite verses to hold on to when that inner-orphan tries to take the stage:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:34)
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. (Psalm 103:13)
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)
Rest assured, you are fully seen, fully known, and fully loved. This is the unshakeable foundation of all God’s promises to you!
‘Sometimes healing comes by waving the white flag of surrender when everyone else is telling you to stay in the fight.’
