So often the temptation comes to arrogance. "Wow- I'm enduring this heartache- if only anyone else knew, how impressed they'd be with my nobleness." Sometimes, one is even tempted to pride by imagining future marvellous feats of faith and courage!:-)
This is worse than nonsense- it's deadly. The greatest heights, and most desperate struggles of my spiritual journey will be invisible to all but God- and rightly so. He intends to reward me at the end- but not to exalt me, or set me in a special position, and the same goes for life along the way. I don't have to worry because I'm misunderstood, unnoticed, or alone. That's the way it's meant to be.
It's delightful to feel that others are following one's progress, cheering at one's successes, and sympathising with one's setbacks, but even this is deceitful. People will come and go in my life, and I will need to continue on. It is for me to trust Him, and to patiently root out every impulse to seek admiration or recognition, or even to be sustained by human encouragement. Comfort and superficial happiness are not what it's all about. That's not how races are won.
Lord, let me be content to pass unnoticing, and unnoticed in and out of human approbation and attention. Let me be impervious both to the traps of praise, and of unjust criticism. Thank You that through these weak feelings of loneliness, and abandonment, I am able to have a greater understanding for the other people in my life, and for all of the hurts which they quietly carry. Teach me to translate this into mercy and encouragement for those You bring my way.
Father, the merry rivers dance
Into the sea without a trace
In all that swelling, vast expanse
Of how they won their arduous race.
O let me leap, as glad as they
Through ev'ry barrier and descent-
Uncaring that the crowd who stay
Will never know which way I went!
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Sharon, thanks for this post. I need the reminder every day to seek God's favor and not man's.
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