Overlooked

Have you ever been overlooked for something? I’ve been picked last before on the playground. For some people, it started there and has stayed with them their entire lives some people get overlooked time and again when it comes to getting promotions at work. They’re talented enough, but for some reason, the boss looks past them. Other people seem to be overlooked within their own family. They might not be outspoken enough, outgoing enough, big enough or strong enough in the eyes of the ones they love the most. It hurts to be overlooked, but somehow it feels worse to be overlooked by the people who know you best.

In 1 Samuel 16, the Lord had had enough of Saul. He told Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from Jesse’s family.. Samuel was fearful that Saul might kill him, so the Lord told him to take a cow to sacrifice. When he arrived, he was met by the city leaders who asked him what he was doing there. He didn’t tell them his true purpose. He invited Jesse and the city leaders to join him in sacrificing. When Jesse and his sons showed up, Samuel saw the oldest, who was tall and handsome. He thought that this guy must be the next king, but one by one God rejected all the sons of Jesse. When he asked if this were all his sons, he said that he had one more son whom they left watching the sheep. When they brought David in, God immediately said to anoint him as king.

In John 15:16, Jesus was giving His farewell address to the disciples, while He was talking to them, His Words are for us too. He said, “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you” (AMP). You may be overlooked by people, but you have been specifically been chosen by God to be His representative. You have been purposefully been planted exactly where you are so you could make a difference. People may not see you, but God does. He has been working out His plan in your life. Don’t give up hope yet. You may feel forgotten, but God’s plan for you will prevail.

Photo by Aravind Vijayan on Unsplash