Feeling Invisible
In the past month or so, I have been prompted to do more to learn about and speak to/for women. That seemed a bit strange, since this is what I usually do as the opportunities and situations present themselves. I have much to learn and dig into concerning the opposite sex, so I have learned in on my years of ‘experience’ and I have started asking my sisters in Christ for topical insights and stuff.
My wife offered up a really intense list of areas I can research! Soo… let me just say, exploring women like Lot’s wife, Noah's wife, or the woman with the issue of blood will be a challenge as they relate to some real-life topics of people I know, who faced severe societal isolation and namelessness.
I can see that the LORD GOD is steering me (us) in a certain direction, so, I will be directly inviting quite a few of you along. If you choose to invite other ladies, women and females—the more the merrier, stronger and healthier.
We not only need healthy and strong men and marriages; it is quite impossible to accomplish these without also having wives and girlfriends who are healthily growing in Messiah Jesus as well.
“Feeling invisible” is one of the most defining, exhausting, and spiritually heavy experiences in womanhood.
When a woman is sensing being unseen, I have learned that it is one of the most defining, exhausting, and spiritually heavy experiences available to her maturation or ruin.
Being the daughter of the GOD Who sees has as much weight (prestige) as does the weight (burden and pain) of feeling unseen and/or ignored.
The Bible shares some history of men who rose from obscurity to notoriety. There are also quite a few women who were once so overlook or forgotten that the Creator shone the Light of His Face on them. When we look at their lives again, with a fresh “perception,” that could possibly be the moment that you ladies would notice your own “you” that He sees. We all know that who/what He sees is almost always what others have missed or ignored.
What is this “weight” I mentioned? Let’s reference it as the feeling of the “invisible” feeling.
It’s not simply feeling “unnoticed,” it sometimes carries the thought that you really are “invisible.” In many areas of life my wife has shared how she has either felt or has been treated as not viable. In that sense, invisibility will be the ache of being needed but not known, present but not prioritized, strong but not supported.
I have some additional phrases that may speak to where you may have been or are currently invisibly swimming in as a lady. That person is trying to stand up to find herself and feel the strength that the LORD of creation has filled you with.
Some may perceive invisibly as being unheard even when speaking clearly.
Some may perceive invisibly as being unrecognized even when you have contributed.
Some may perceive invisibly as being unprotected when you are vulnerable.
Some may perceive invisibly as being forgotten when you are committed, loyal and reliable.
Some may perceive invisibly as being disregarded, especially when you are right there!
Some may perceive invisibly as being not enough, when they see the load you carry.
The erosion of our self-confidence somehow becomes attached to the spiritual, emotional, and relational losses as well. Each and every human has the essential necessity of being needed, known, prioritized, strong and supported.
Here are a few ladies that may appear to be tossed aside, but…
1. HAGAR was the iteration of “The GOD Who Sees Me” - Genesis 16:6–14 & 21:14–21
She was mistreated and then cast out
Alone in the wilderness with her child with no advocate and no protection
The angel of the LORD found her in the desert, called her by name, spoke to her destiny and promised a future for her son
NOTE: ADONAI always has a plan and purpose for you, ma’am. The Holy One Revealed Himself to Hagar as El Roi — “the El Who sees” her.
NOTE: Ladies, don’t say that you are forgotten. It may seem like that, but… GOD saw the unseen woman in the wilderness. Hagar is the model of visibility.
2. HANNAH was overlooked and misjudged – 1 Samuel 1–2
Infertility in a culture where motherhood defines worth
Misunderstood
NOTE: When others and even you fail to perceive, ADONAI misses nothing about you.
3. MARY MAGDALENE had a sordid and traumatic past (talk about being cast down)
— John 20:11–18 & Luke 8:1–3
Every past can be redeemed (don’t overlook your present)
She was certainly socially marginalized
However, Yeshua ALSO “called her by name” …at the tomb
Jesus entrusted her with the resurrection announcement
In John, Yeshua sent her to tell others, “He is risen,” making her the first herald of the Resurrection.
4. THE WOMAN WITH 12 YEARS of BLEEDING became the center of attention in the middle of a throng! – Mark 5:25–34 & Luke 8:43–48
NOTE: There is a LOT here! She had been ignored, untouched and unloved for AT LEAST 12 years!
Ceremonially unclean
Socially isolated
Financially drained
Lost in the crowd
Jesus feels her touch (of faithfulness). She went for the tzitzits.
Yeshua publicly restores her dignity.
Names her “Daughter”
NOTE: Are you like her? Suffering silently for years. The hiddenness became her very identity!
5. THE BENT-OVER WOMAN was not overlooked, as others were very good at doing so – Luke 13:10–17
Eighteen years bent over and unable to stand tall
Overlooked in the synagogue (likely considered cursed or insignificant)
Jesus notices her without her calling out, and invited her to the front
Speaks freedom over her and defends her against criticism and ignorance
NOTE: Even in the state of being emotionally, mentally, spiritually and maybe even physically beaten-down, hope rises from those ashes!
I have felt unseen and discarded, so I know the heaviness of carrying that type of weight. Ladies, being invisible CAN and WILL eventually feel like it has reached your soul’s identity. Don’t allow it to steal ANY of the following…
Your value. Girl, you MATTER!
Your voice — Does what you say carry weight? Yes ma’am.
Your safety. There is Someone Who is watching out for you.
Your fit.
Your worthiness. …You are still being written!