“There’s apparently a secret club.”

My heart sank as another mom relayed the woes of our young students at co-op. My child was the instigator. Her child was not allowed in the club. Her child was in tears. Mine was oblivious to the broken heart.

My friend courageously decided it was best to work through this conflict together. After all, that’s why we joined homeschool community. We desire to work together to lead our children in God’s way. I applaud her bravery.

But my heart quietly broke as I heard how my child had hurt another.

“A few children had to sit in time-out after repeatedly disobeying.”

Yep. My child again. In the same day. A child who is normally cooperative and obedient.

I began to question myself as the situations piled up.

Have I been neglecting this child’s need for attention? Have I failed in teaching character lessons? Have I fallen short of being a good mom?

That same day held other inner struggles for me. I was tired. An older student was struggling with an  assignment. Arguments had tainted our morning drive together.

A friend had recently asked if I ever feel invisible.

Yes, I do. There’s this inner dialogue that is not always so kind to myself. There are wounds from my past that no one else sees.

Do you ever feel invisible with your inner hurts and struggles? 

But I also have a stubborn determination to hold confidently to Jesus in the midst of life’s storms. I defiantly choose to worship even as life seems to fall apart. I make Holy Spirit-led choices to restrain my tongue and wait despite my impatience.

But no one sees those either.

You struggle with the weight of regret, the bondage of sinful patterns, and the slavery of inner thoughts. But you also cry out to God for deliverance and relief.

You are not alone. This dilemma has plagued people for thousands of years.

Before the ten plagues and the days of Moses.

“During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.” (Exodus 2:23)

The Israelites felt forgotten. Did God see how the Egyptians treated them? Did He hear their pleas for help?

Yes.

“God heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.” (Exodus 2:24)

Ok, so maybe He hears and sees. He is God Almighty and knows everything.

But, you might ask yourself, does He care?

Yes, again.

“So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.” (Exodus 2:25)

We know the rest of the story. God saw. God heard. He cared.

God responded.

God called Moses out of Egypt so could return to Egypt and deliver Israel from Egypt. God guided them through the wilderness and to the Promised Land. God was faithful to keep His covenant with His people.

What does God whisper to our lonely hearts through His Word?

He sees.

God sees our hurts invisible to everyone else.

He sees your tears as you hide in the bathroom. He feels your pain as you seek relief in chocolate. He perceives the confusing thoughts even you can’t make sense from. He understands the truth when you force the smile.

God sees glimpses of Himself in us.

But He sees beyond the hurt. When you place a guard over your mouth, He sees the words you left unspoken. When you clench your teeth and count to ten (or seventy-two), He sees your tremendous effort of self-control. When you take a deep breath and breathe grace, He sees your dependence on His Spirit.

These are glimpses of His nature. We might only see Him dimly now as in a mirror, but you are being transformed into His glory. God knows you are reflecting a bit more of Him each day.

God sees the end from the beginning.

The Israelites just wanted out slavery. God wanted to give them His Promised Land.

They wanted help for right now. God gave a covenant for salvation throughout all history.

We want relief from the struggle, joy in the pain, easy days and restful nights. But God sees beyond our desire for immediate comfort. He sees our place in the great story He is writing in His world.

He sees purpose in invisible moments.

So the next time you put on a brave smile as your heart sinks, remember you’re not really invisible.

God sees far more than we can dream.