In our culture of social media, Instagram, Facebook, IGTV, and YouTube, we are pressed to believe that if our faith is not celebrity status, it is not really faith. If our faith is not big enough to have followers and likes, then our faith is not enough. If what we do for Jesus isn’t seen on certain platforms, then we need to do more for Jesus. Celebrity status is not the litmus test of a life that loves and knows Jesus. It is not about how much others see of us—it is how much we see of God. Mary is a great example of a life of faith. Before anyone knew her name, Mary knew and saw God.
Mary did not have celebrity status at this point. No one knew Mary, yet Mary knew God. Mary knew God with the depth of her being. She knew God and could say, “Let it be to me according to your word.” She praises God with a song in Luke 1:46–55, proclaiming who he is and what he has done. She sings of his justice, his faithfulness, and his sight of the poor and lowly. She believes and knows that God sees her. God sees Mary, and Mary sees God. No one knew her, but Jesus did.
the gift of quiet
All of this changes very quickly when Jesus is born. King Herod hears the news and wants to find Jesus so he can kill him (Matthew 2:1–18). Mary is now known, and her son is a threat. Can you imagine what it would have been like if others had known Mary’s story at that point? What if they had known of the crazy, miraculous, culturally problematic pregnancy?
Before she and Jesus were known, Mary was given this gift of quiet and a space to deepen in faith. She was given a few months of reflection. A gift before the chaos. In that time she was able to confide in her cousin, lean into her husband, and deepen her praise and wonder of God. That time of anonymity was a gift of space to ponder, to reflect, to praise, and to get ready for what was to come. And what was to come would be widely public and incredibly painful.
unseen
We all feel the pull to be seen. We want others to notice us, our gifts, and what we have to offer. At times this can be a selfish pull, and we need to remain humble through confession. As we confess our sin, whether it is pride, selfishness, greed, or something else, God’s grace and mercies meet us. At other times the pull of being seen can be the longing to live as God has called you to live, to have someone notice your gifts, your mind, your heart, and your service. With so much competition, minimization, and comparison in our worlds, we are left unseen. Living a faithful life following Jesus does not have to be done on a stage or on a platform. Your obedience to him is not a show.
These unseen spaces give us the opportunity to please God, and not man. God knows our hearts. When no one else is watching, we are able to check our hearts about our motives.
The unseen, humble places give us a call to listening to God. Living in His light at which He calls us. We just have to listen!
I love Psalm 139 ~ that we were literally formed in secret (v15), with God being the only one who knew and watched over every intricate detail. I believe the gift of the unseen places is a depth of knowing God (and like you said Abigail, being able to listen to and recognize His voice, above all.the.others.). Jesus becomes your best friend, your safe place, your hidden treasure…that you absolutely can’t wait to get to every day, and one you can’t help but share with others. ♥️
A gift of giving me space to reflect , concentrate, take rest without distraction, to be re-strengthen in His presence
When God puts me in a place of "unseen", it’s with definite purpose. It’s necessary to pause and ask Him to what end is this time of seeming obscurity. It could be to protect me, refine me, prepare me, or simply to spend more time alone with me. Possibly all of the above. I can trust Him in these times.
maybe you can hear his direction w/o the noise
you act based on him not others
I cherish the gift of time & quietness and being able to be obscure and offline!
My daily time with God is to grow me in relationship with Him. It is so personal and private it needs to be unseen. It gives me a time to really reflect and be real.
i have to let go so i can pick up truth, when i confess. "God let it be as you said" your will not Mine. Have faith in Jesus know that i am just like one of those at the table and he brought them from self-centered. To out centered where I want to be.
In the quiet space you can be very vulnerable and honest with Him about everything. We can get to know him deeper by not only opening up to him but trusting him and letting go of our worries/problems. I believe after we fully let go and trust God, we will feel more empowered to step into whatever He is calling us to do and can equip us more for the season we are in.
Sometimes we feel so alone and often feel unseen, but we need to remember that the Lord is always with us and that He sees us. Sometimes we want to shout look at me, look at all I am doing. We just want approval. I have to step back and remember that the only one that matters is my Heavenly Father and that He approves of me or He wouldn’t have called me to walk with Him as a disciple. That is very humbling. Why does He care so much for me? I have not done anything that deserves His attention, but He still hangs on to me and pursues me. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone else. I love that and it frees me from having to please man.