Overlooked or Hidden?

This message was placed on my heart last month, but due to busyness, I have not had an opportunity to share until now. So, please take your seats for another life lesson.

The school bell has rung, class is now in session.

Have you ever felt like you were being overlooked? Maybe you were in a group and someone was appointed to put together a team, and you were the last one to be picked.

Maybe an opportunity to participate in an activity or group was shared, then when you expressed interest, you were told that all of the spaces were filled.

Someone accomplished a task, and is recognized, but when you do something noteworthy, no one notice.

You ask for something, months maybe years go by without a response and you are left with the shadows.

You were a part of a group you trusted, but found out some or all of the people in that group were not a fan of yours, especially when you were not around.

These situations can cause pain, but I want to take time to let you know that while I was in prayer, three words came to mind, Overlooked or Hidden?

These words stood out because we had just finished the study of Joseph’s life in the Book of Genesis. If you know anything about Joseph, he was hidden for years until he was elevated by God for a specific purpose, becoming the second-in-command over all of Egypt.

This was also true for King David. As a young teenager, he worked as a shepherd tending sheep when the Prophet Samuel came to anoint him to be King. It took roughly 15 years before David actually became King of Judah and Israel. In between time he was hiding in caves and on the run to protect his life.

What this tells me is that there will be times when you feel left out, and overlooked but those are the times to cling to the Lord and seek clear guidance and instruction from Him as Joseph and King David did. He will never steer you in the wrong direction and what He has planned is always more greater than you can even think or imagine!

What you do not want to do is mope around, feel sorry for yourself too long, or come up with your own conclusions/directions. Be encouraged! Many people who are called to a specific purpose are often overlooked because God has them hidden.

The Hebrew Word for “Hidden” means to conceal, keep close or secret. This is evident throughout scripture because Moses had the very same experience. He was concealed and sent to live as Pharaoh’s daughter’s child, raised in royalty until he was revealed to set his true people free. Jesus was also concealed and raised as a normal child until his true origin was revealed at the age of 30.

Original Word: סָתַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: cathar
Pronunciation: sah-thar’
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-thar’)
KJV: be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self), (keep) secret, X surely 
NASB: hide, hidden, hid, concealed, hides, conceal, hiding
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

It is for this reason that these three words, Overlooked or Hidden, were such a blessing because as I studied the Hebrew word for “Hidden” it was confirmed that some people are simply being overlooked for a reason, and are strategically being kept a secret and hidden in plain sight for a specific purpose.

Stay strong and encouraged, being overlooked can definitely end up being a good thing.

The school bell has rung, class dismissed!