Though she sat on the front row, you would have missed her. Passed right by without a second thought. No designer labels. Quiet. Invisible. A plastic bead among the polished gems of the well-to-do Sunday School class. 

Until my lesson started. 

I threw out questions to the feisty group of seniors I had the privilege to teach that morning. 

Did anyone practice regular personal worship? Her shy hand rose. 

Pray without ceasing? Her hand waved now. 

Fasting? Of course.

My heart lurched. 

God whispered. Pay attention. 

Here was an invisible one, traveling through life unnoticed and, I’m guessing, largely untouched. 

But to God?

A delight to His heart. I sensed His pleasure. She’s one of His favorites.

Seen.

Heard.

Known.

I’m convinced Heaven is populated with countless like her. 

Humble.

Unassuming.

But sold out to their Jesus. 

The world’s gaze is like a crow’s. Drawn to what sparkles. The Church trips here too.

I don’t want to be like that. 

Isaiah 2:22 says, “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” This verse always knocks me back. How many times has the Church elevated an individual only to have time reveal serious sin? 

God convicts me even as He widens my gaze. 

Countless verses speak to His invisibles:

• The poor, the brokenhearted, the captive, the prisoner, those who grieve (Isaiah 61:1-3).
• The meek and persecuted of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12).
• The last (Matthew 19:30; Mark 10:31).
• The least (Matthew 23:11-12; Mark 10:42-45).
• The childlike (Matthew 18:3).

To the invisible, God says: 

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV). 

How the human heart longs to be treasured.

And, beloved, you are. 

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

God sees you.

God hears you.

God knows you.

Questions and Activities:

1. Have you ever felt invisible? Why? How did it make you feel?
2. In what ways do you seek acknowledgement and why? Check with your family. Talk about those needs to be seen and heard and how you can work together to affirm one another.
3. Who is invisible to you? Why? What will you do to change that? Reach out to one of your invisibles this week. Someone waits for a touch, a smile, an acknowledgement that they too have value. Widen your gaze.