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.
If gives us an opportunity to demonstrate our trust in God that he will lead us to his purpose if we are humble. If we put aside our own selfish desires to listen and turn towards him for direction, we open ourselves to a servant life that will bring us true joy. I can’t always tell what that is, but I try to listen to my conscience and examine why something reiterates in mind.
Unseen, humble space = hearing the heart of God
Sometimes our voice is not the only thing that gets drowned out by all of the hustle and bustle. Often, God’s voice is unable to be heard through all of the Noise of this world. There is such beauty in the waiting. In the quiet time that God gives us where we are anticipating what He is going to do next in our lives or while trying to discern what our next step is in accordance with His will, God gives us the gift and ability to not be distracted and to Hear His word. It is in the stillness and quiet that we are able to grow close to God and expand in our being so that we are more fully prepared for the next chapter.
Unseen spaces allows us to open up and be real with God. Let him understand what concerns lay heavy on your heart and let him in to lighten it. This provides the opportunity to let your guard down and have an intimate relationship with your maker
Life isn´t always on stage, and what happens off stage can be really important. The Bible has a lot of spaces when the ordinary life just goes on, "nothing" happens, it´s maybe a time of waiting, like Noah, Moses, Abraham. It´s easy to forget the spaces because there is not a lot to write about them, because it is what it is.
I think it´s important to learn to appreciate spaces.
Something as big and disruptive as the pandemic has to be a space where God is going to prepare us for whatever is next for us or for us to do things differently now. I have more time right now to spend with Him and to reevaluate how . spend my time and who I spend it with. Lord help me to not waste this time but to see what you are doing in me and through me. Amen.
The unseen space for me is the everyday grind of life. It is not the big events in your life but the wake up, hustle, go to bed and do it all over again. In a word, it’s quite monotonous. It’s important to invite God into those moments because a lot of life is doing the same things over and over again. It’s letting God be apart of the simple everyday things that you do. While also knowing that letting God into the small aspects of your life builds a foundation for a strong faith and an unwavering trust in the Lord for when those big moments hit.
This is so true!
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.