Forever Seen

Dull gray eyes stared back at me in the mirror. Unimpressive, unimportant, unseen. That’s how I feltinvisible. Would anyone notice if I were gone? Would anyone really care? Contemplating my apparent superhero power of invisibility really lifted my spirits. Sighing deep, I tried to stop the tears from leaking from my eyes. As I turned my back on the mirror, wondering if I even wanted to face one more day, I noticed a small bird perched on a branch right outside my window. I edged forward slowly for a closer look. The bird seemed to stare straight into my soul, unafraid, as I moved closer to the window. It was a tiny sparrow. Deep in the recesses of my heart, a memory stirred. Something I had heard when I was a child: Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. I could not even recall where I had heard this or even how old I had been, but the words in my mind blazed brighter than the sunrise. I snatched my phone off the bed and searched the words. They came from Matthew 10:29-31, and they were in red. Further investigation revealed that the red words were the words Jesus spoke. Sinking onto my bed, I gazed out the window and let the tears spill. This time, they were not tears of discouragement or dolor. No, these were tears of joy and promise. I was not invisible. I was known, wanted, loved, and forever seen. Savannah Coleman When we feel hopeless, Jesus sees us and cares for us. Where do you need hope today? If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can also talk with someone via web chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat If your situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. If you need someone to talk to but are not in need of immediate help, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Psalm 139; Luke 18:35-Luke 18:42; Genesis 16