God sees, knows and has a plan
I looked up from reading my Bible and saw her green eyes peering at me over the seat in front of me. The blonde-haired teen with rosy cheeks was quite the inquisitive one. She asked several general questions at first as I was traveling to an out-of-town speaking engagement.
“What are you reading?” she inquired, looking down at my open Bible, which started a discussion about faith, Christianity, Jesus and His love. For a while, the conversation stayed on a generic, general level. But then, things went deeper. She shared that she was going through really difficult changes at home. She admitted to being a wayward daughter that pushed people away. As she went on, she turned red as a rose in full bloom and broke down crying. “I feel like no one loves me,” she said between heaving sobs.
No one was sitting in the seat next to me, so, after a while, when she felt more comfortable, she slid into the empty space.
“Why do you want to die?” I asked her in hushed tones when she came closer. “Don’t you know God loves you and cares about you?” I witnessed to her about the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and how He died for us because He loves us unconditionally.
She told me what a terrible person she was. I asked what she had done so bad that she felt unworthy of love. That’s when she unpacked a horribly painful memory. She and several of her friends were on their way somewhere. A few of them were traveling in the car up ahead and she was riding in the vehicle behind them. The driver of the first car lost control and wrecked as she watched in horror.
There was not one survivor of the crash.
All of her friends inside that vehicle died. She was understandably traumatized.
“Why did God let me survive? Why didn’t I just die with them?” she asked. Deep grief contributed to her suicidal urges, depression and feelings of unworthiness. My heart broke for her right there. The tears flowed and flowed from her puffy eyes. I prayed and ministered to her some more. God had me on assignment. She didn’t know me, but God knew her and that was all that mattered.
Sometimes, we feel anonymous, like no one sees or cares about what we’re going through. But God sees us. He knows us by name.
Earlier today, I was reading Nehemiah 7, which focuses on some of God’s children who felt invisible and overlooked. After the walls and gates of Jerusalem had been rebuilt, the Jews that returned home from Babylonian captivity, were attempting to resettle in their community.
Some of the people had an accurate written record of themselves and their families. Others did not; there was not a hint of proof of their identities anywhere. Some who said they were priests were not listed. That meant they couldn’t serve in that priestly capacity because they couldn’t prove who they were. Talk about being anonymous and unknown. How frustrated and helpless they must have felt!
Nehemiah 7:64 explains, “These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.”
Can you imagine losing every form of identification you have and then learning that your electronic records were wiped out of every system, and nobody could verify your credentials? If that scenario were true in your life, whether you were actually a doctor or nurse; pastor or evangelist; mayor or president; you couldn’t get back into your office because no one could vouch for you.
This had to be a terrible feeling.
According to verse 65, there were some instructions given to the priests with no records, credentials or verifications. “The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.”
Priests had special privileges. And for the ones with no ID, those privileges were revoked—at least temporarily.
When the Bible mentions priests consulting the Urim and Thummim, which were in the breastplates of priestly garments according to Exodus 28:30, this was the way they consulted with God to discern His will.
Here in this passage, we learn something: once priests took time to commune with the Lord, it was fully expected that He would speak and reveal the true identities of the ones who were anonymous to man.
Friend, people may not know who you are, but God does. He is aware of everything about you. He knows and cares about the smallest and most intricate details of all of our lives. Luke 12:7 says the very hairs on your head are numbered. That doesn’t sound anonymous to me.
Back in Nehemiah’s day, I know it was a tough spot to be in for the guys without records. But all was not lost. The people that were real servants of the Lord would be identified as such once the priests had a talk with the Father about it. God, Himself would speak up on their behalf. They wouldn’t need any paper verifying their credentials once Heaven put a stamp of approval on them.
God has a way of doing things that defies man's opinions, reasoning, authority and understanding. He has all kinds of ways to move in your favor. I believe for someone reading, there are some awesome things on the way. God is about to openly put His hand on you and all will know you are favored and blessed. Some things are coming down the pike that will turn your life around.
No longer will you be shunned, anonymous and pushed aside. I know it's hard to see now. From the looks of things, the blessing train has passed you by, right?
Wrong.
Heaven has already decreed and declared some things about you. God has already spoken some things into existence for you. And you're going to get all He has for you. What He said has to show up. Just you wait and see.
"Rejoice for the blessing before you get it in your hand. It's already done. You're about to see it!"
Friend, God sees you. He knows who you are, what you’re going through and what He has planned for you. It's amazing, too! Don’t fall for the deception of Satan. He wants to make you feel small, insignificant, overlooked and forgotten. He does this especially in seasons when things are going wrong. The enemy will point to your circumstances and try to use them as evidence to prove that you don’t matter; that God won’t work it out; that things aren’t coming together; that the Lord is not going to heal you; and that the situation will never turn around.
Lies, lies, all lies.
The devil is a liar. The Lord’s promises He has spoken over your life are very real and true. Despite the obstacles, setbacks and negative situations you may be dealing with today, the Lord has not pushed you aside. Rather, He is on your side. Stay focused on His word. Things may be temporarily out of wack, but hang in there. God has pronounced blessings over your life. His goodness follows you. His plan cannot be undone.
The next time Satan tries to deceive you and make you feel invisible, remember the verses I’m stirring into your cup of inspiration today. They are found in Psalm 139:4-5 NLT, which says, “You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, rejoice in knowing that God anticipates your needs. He knows your thoughts. Without saying a word, He is fully aware of what you will utter. Not only is there an awareness of who you are, but, as I said a moment ago, there is a plan for your life. It’s a good one, too!
God’s hand of blessing is over you as the psalm of the day tells you. Be encouraged. What He has prepared for you, no man, no circumstances, no problem and no setback can stop it from coming to pass.
God cares for you. He vouches for you. He fights for you. He advocates for you. He intercedes for you. He loves you with an unfailing, unending, unconditional love.
Now let’s pray.
God, thank You for reminding me that You see me and know me. Every worry, care and concern I have, I give it to You. In times when I feel alone, overlooked and forsaken, remind me of Your promises. I believe every single one of them spoken over my life will come to pass! I glorify and praise You now for what You have done, are doing and will do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with you. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.
