When You Wonder If God Sees You: The Heart of Christmas

Christine Drews

7 years ago

Inside: Feeling unnoticed and wondering if God sees you? Like you’re playing a game of hide and seek, and no one has come to find you? What to do if you think God doesn’t see you.

When You Wonder If God Sees You: The Heart of Christmas As early as their feet could pitter patter across a room, my nieces loved to play hide-and-seek. It started as most games do, with the adults egging them on: “Go hide, and I’ll find you!”

Their joy upon being found was inexpressible.

Soon, the game shifted. I would come in the door from running an errand, and another adult would say, “Aunt Chris, I can’t find Alyssa. I thought she was with you!” Big wink, smile, nod.

Loud and obvious seeking ensued, although Alyssa was quite visible under the table or behind the door. When I “found” her, the biggest smile greeted me.

As she grew older, she recruited her younger sister, and now they were hiding behind couches, truly hidden from view. Two girls were lost. Where could they be? The angst while lost. The glee once found!

But what if I came in the door, played the game, found one sister, and then became distracted, not seeking out the other? At first the still-lost sister enjoyed having successfully hid herself, but then she languished. How long would she have to stay behind that boring couch where no one was paying attention to her? Why wasn’t I looking? Didn’t I care about her and her situation?

Ever felt that way? Perhaps more than you would like to admit? Just a few days ago, I was having a pity party and whined my way through a prayer. Little did I know, encouragement had already been sent: Wrapped up in my self-absorbed spiral, I hadn’t even thought to check the inbox of a different account, where two uplifting messages had arrived.

We wallow behind the couch, thinking no one cares even enough to check on us.

My attention redirected back to the game of hide-and-seek, I played along: “Oh my goodness, she’s still missing?” Around the house I traipsed, calling Isabella’s name. Surely we hadn’t left her at the store. Did you leave her in the car? A cough, a giggle, tipped me off, as if I needed the clue. “There you are!” I sing-songed, peering around the back side of the couch.

“What took you so long? I was there all day!” she challenged, having stayed still behind the couch for an eternal 10 minutes.

The little town of Bethlehem could have complained the same. The ordinary village was barely noticeable, a passing thought on the Judean countryside. But its role in history? Nothing short of glorious.

Bethlehem, so small as to not be counted by Joshua as a possession of Judah, would be the earthly birthplace of the Messiah.

God spoke it so through the prophet Micah between 735 and 700 BC. Not long after as far as centuries go, God’s Word to humankind was silent for 400 years . . .

Until Mary and Joseph traveled to the unnoticed little village so they could be counted in the census . . . so that Mary, who was with child, could give birth there, just as the prophet had foretold.

Feeling unnoticed these days? Languishing behind the couch? Does anyone notice or care?

Oh, God sees you. He knows you are hiding behind that couch, just waiting for Him to peek around the corner and exclaim, “There you are!” The thing is, He knew where you were all along.

He sees. He knows. He loves you with all His heart.

Come on over to DiggingDeeperwithGod to download a free printable and find journaling questions to use in your quiet time with God. Portions of Micah 5 and Matthew 2 are printed there for you as well.

In the printable:

You’ll learn three strategies to encourage your soul with the truth that God sees you and loves you.
You’ll receive prompts for journaling that will strengthen your time with God.