There’s an old saying that is as true as it is disheartening: No one sees the work I do; they only notice when I don’t do it.

Our culture bombards women with lies about who we are with unrealistic and impossible expectations. The harder we work, the more we do, we just get more and more confused and lost if we don’t know that our worth comes from God and understand who we are in God’s eyes. Even when we do understand this, physical and emotional exhaustion can make us feel overwhelmed to the point of losing ourselves, feeling unloved and unseen.

Sometimes we find ourselves facing challenges that can leave us feeling alone and on our own, forgetting that God sees our need. Is He paying attention?

Thankfully, YES, He is!  We are not alone.  God loves us unconditionally and extravagantly, and He never leaves us alone.

Quite simply, and yet profoundly, GOD always SEES us.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed and lost, one of my “go-to” encouragements is this passage from Pearls of Grace, speaking as God’s voice to me.

“I see you, daughter.

I see you pressing through the dark clouds of oppression.

I see you pressing through the pain of what was.

I see you pressing through the weighty fog of the world.

I see you pressing through the heaviness reaching out to Me through your tears and songs of hope.

When no one else sees, I do.

When no one else hears, I do.

When no one else comes, I do.

When you feel invisible and wonder if your life matters, I am roaring Truth over you.

Every tear you’ve shed has not gone unnoticed by Me.

Don’t despair, daughter.

Each step of faith you take with Me breaks the lies of the enemy.

I created you in My image and likeness.

I am with you so peace can rule in your heart.

I hear the silent cries of desire.

I see the battle wounds gained in war.

Trust Me to tend to your every need.

Not only am I beside you, but I am also on your side.

Nothing escapes my notice.

Nothing will separate you from My love.”

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:38-39 NIV

These words, punctuated at the end with my mother’s favorite scripture about the intensity of God’s love, never fails to refocus  my heart and thoughts on Jesus and His Truth about who I am and His great love and care for me.

“You’ve kept track of all my wandering and my weeping. You’ve stored my many tears in Your bottle – not one will be lost. For they are all recorded in Your Book of Remembrance.” ~ Psalm 56:8-9 TPT

Like David wrote in the psalms, I know that the very moment I call out to God for a Father’s help, the tide of the battle turns and my enemies flee (depression, fear, anger, etc.)  I love how David would bare his soul to God, sometimes angry, sometimes accusing, and yet after all his lamenting, he would exclaim with 100 per cent conviction:

“But this one thing I know: God is on my side!”

God is always for us because He has given us the privilege of being His children.

I John 3:1 says,

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

I love this scripture! It’s definitely one of my favorites because it is always so good to hear and to know that I am loved, but more than that, I am especially moved by the word LAVISH.

Lavish:  extravagant, without limit

There is nothing stingy or frugal about God. He loves lavishly, overwhelming and wholly encompassing our being with his love, no holds barred!

And then, there is this story of the woman who broke her precious alabaster jar of expensive oil (some say equal to a year’s wages) to pour oil on Jesus in an act of worship, found in Mark 14:3-9.

(Jesus speaking)

“She has done all that she could to honor me. I promise you that as this wonderful gospel spreads all over the world, the story of her LAVISH devotion to me will be mentioned in memory of her.” – Mark 14:9 TPT

Meditating on these two scriptures together reminds me that a love-based relationship is always a two-way street. I’m thankful and filled with joy because God lavishes His love on me, but it would be selfish to just accept this gift of extravagant love without responding with complete devotion to Him.

If we are to be in a true relationship with Jesus, we we will lavish our love and devotion on Him in a tangible way that is more than lip service. We will study His Word and ask for discernment and revelation to have a better understanding of  Who He Is so that we can live in a manner pleasing to Him. We will obey His command to tell His story of love and redemption to others, and be His hands and feet to those in need. We will spend time with Him in worship and praise, praying for our heart to be aligned with His so that our heart rejoices with what makes Him rejoice, and break over what makes His heart break. THIS is the purpose and relationship for which we were created.

He always sees us.  He always loves us.  He is always with us.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding” ~ Ephesians 1:7-8

Not only does He lavish His love on us, but also gives abundant forgiveness and grace.

He sees me.  And when my eyes are on Him, those situations and emotions that threaten to defeat me cease to have power over me, and the darkness flees.

I will never be able to match the enormity of God’s love for me, but I can give Him my grateful and complete devotion.  Such love and faithful attention from Him deserves nothing less.