feeling seen helps us hear
I’ve had some incredibly encouraging conversations lately. God has been speaking straight to my heart through people who truly see me in my situation and ministry.
I don’t know that I can explain very well what I mean by that. But if you’ve ever felt invisible, I think you know what I’m talking about.
Simply feeling seen is amazingly restorative.
My pastor reminded me to focus on seeking God, not just His will. Ultimately, the only thing I need is more of Him. Yet I can get caught up in pursuing God for something rather than just pursuing God.
I need to seek God’s face and not His hand.
And I needed to be reminded of that fact.
A new ministry friend spoke some freeing words to me. “You don’t need to feel stained by the situation you’re walking through. Because you’re not. Others’ decisions are not a reflection of you, your heart, or your vision in ministry.”
I can’t even tell you how much I needed to hear that.
It was as though I could hear the chains dropping to the ground.
These conversations fueled my passion to make others feel seen. And to use my words to build up rather than tear down.
Don’t underestimate the power of your words to breathe life into someone.
Look around. And look beneath the surface to truly see the person under the layers of circumstances.
Be intentional today to speak strength and courage into someone’s heart.
It’s probably just what they need.
Dear Alece,
I just love your honesty, transparency and openness. Thank you for your genuine blogs, I know that in this walk with God I can be ME and still thrive.YOU are such a blessing and an insiration. I love you sooooo very much :)
I LOVE that you’ve had such encouragement in your life lately. I really, really get what you mean about being seen. Oh yes, how we all need this.
I love how much carefully-chosen words spoken by just the right people at just the right time into your life have meant to you. Prov. 25:11 comes to mind: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”
Straight from my heart: You are sincerely loved. You are precious. I carry you in my heart every day.
@Melissa_Rae says:
I have been seeking God’s hand & not His face but didn’t realize it until I read your words. Instead of spending time with Him for His sake, it’s been for what I want: direction, comfort, answers. Thank you for sharing this and reminding me that the relationship is more important than the responsibilities.
@gritandglory says:
i’m in that same place of conviction, melissa…
@LindseyHartz says:
I am so thankful that God is pouring love and encouragement into your life and ministry through the words of others.
It’s strange sometimes how little value we place on ourselves, how we can tend to see ourselves with such a diminished and tarnished beauty.
I am often humbled and so blessed by how others see me~ I certainly DON’T see myself that way about 99% of the time.
And God knows just how to put that right person with that right bit of wisdom directly in my path when I need to be reminded of how HE sees me and how following Him is making my piddly little jacked up life shine His glory to the world.
Remember Alece that being a leader can sometimes seem like a lonely and treacherous path. But that loneliness will always bring you closer to our precious Father.
You are NOT invisible, your light and how God is using you is so much brighter than you realize.
((as I type I am pretty sure God is using you to remind me of that :-) ))
Blessings~
Lindsey
@gritandglory says:
i so appreciate your heart, lindsey. thank you.
Very encouraging AND it is so good to read (and see) you, both down and up.
@atangie says:
That is so good to hear you are feeling heard, and encouraged and freed. What you say is true; you are a wise woman.
I just loved this. To feel invisible…I have so been there…am still there in a lot of ways.
I went to an event with Beth Moore last weekend and she said…”Right now there are 300,000 women listening and praising God. But He doesn’t see a mass of women. He doesn’t even see you as one in a mass of women. He sees you. Period. As if you were the only one here. He sees you.”
I so needed to hear that. And I so needed to read your words today.
Congratulations on the half-marathon. So proud of you for that accomplishment. I’m so disappointed that I couldn’t be there during the meet up when you were in town. Would have loved the opportunity to spend time with you.
@gritandglory says:
i should be back in nashville in june or july – hopefully we can meet up then!
@elainaavalos says:
It’s great to hear that you’ve had that encouragement! It makes all the difference. Not being seen/heard is not fun. Giving to others what you’ve been given is a huge gift.
“Don’t underestimate the power of your words to breathe life into someone.” I love that.
thanks for this reminder, alece.
intentional……that’s a good plan that is so often forgotten with the dailies of this life.
@cassgirl says:
I can’t believe we are on the same coast this morning.. I am sure you are still catching up on some sleep as I write.
Ben Arment’s words echoed and resonated within me… I even tucked them away in a journal, although God had Ben speak them into existence into your heart, you just did in mine… Thank you for being intentional
Love you FF!!
@gritandglory says:
i’m so glad you heard God in ben’s words as well. powerful stuff.
i’m on your coast!!!
Alece,
thanks for this excellent post, and for sharing your friend’s very freeing words. Remaining strong in your faith, regardless of your circumstances, is very powerful.
Happy, blessed and safe travels,
Chris
@gritandglory says:
thanks, chris!
Seeking God’s face, not His hand…oh, my friend, that is powerful. And hard. And pretty much what I am struggling with today.
Fantastic post. It’s so great to see the way people are pouring into you right now and helping encourage you through this season of travel and fund raising. I know it’s not easy on you.
You’re so right on being invisible. When you feel invisible you begin to feel like you’re not important, that you don’t matter and that you have no real value. People who used to talk to you seem to have moved on to other people. Old friends have new ones. You feel like the usher at church is stunned to see money appear in the offering plate because they don’t see someone sitting in the pew. That starts to feed on itself and before you realize what’s happening you act from that mindset and withdraw even further. I know that feeling all too well.
I’m thankful you have so many friends (both real life and virtual) who love you.
@gritandglory says:
i am so thankful for my friends, too. God has made my life so rich at a time when i desperately needed it.
If I was there, I would hug you :) I second what Ben said. that is HUGE.
I love that God is providing for you in this season by surrounding you with friends (that, my dear friend, is a direct answer to prayer :) )
I Pray God FLOODS you with His reassuring love this week… strengthening you in your inner man (Eph 3:16-21)…
I pray God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will … (2 Corinthians 9:8)…
I pray that you will be able to think, at all times, on things that are GOOD, and NOBLE, and TRUE, and TRUSTWORTHY (Ph 4:8)…
I pray that you are greeted with a holy kiss, with greetings from all of the churches out there (Romans 16:16)…
I pray that many come along to encourage you and build you up in this time (1 Thess 5:11)
and I pray that you always remember that you are His precious child… beloved… forgiven… set free… whole… magnificent… and HE has created the works He has for you to do this week (Eph 2:10)
Love you girl!
@gritandglory says:
thank you for that bible study, jenny-girl! i love how much Word you’ve got in you!
I love how I always feel like you well and truly **see** me when we are together. You listen with your eyes and your ears. I love that about you!
@gritandglory says:
that is one of THE best compliments! love you, LJ!
@christielici0us says:
We just never know when a few simple words might be just what someone needs to hear. My goal is always to be intentional, every single day, but your post was a good reminder! Thank you!
I love this post Alece! I so understand what you mean when you say “Simply feeling seen is amazingly restorative.” I’m so excited to hear these good things that are happening in your heart! Praying for continued restoration and healing for you.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that God has awesome things planned for you…and you are on the journey to receive them! And yes, the most valuable one is deeper intimacy with Him. That is what I crave…but like you, I get so easily distracted from purely seeking His face. I am comforted so much to know that He will continue His good work in us until the day of Christ. We don’t have to be perfect – but we can remain aware and continue refocusing and correcting our course. In a recent post I wrote, Wise Choices, I quoted from a book called The Slight Edge. “Once you know the Slight Edge, you know that in getting from point A to point B you’ll be off track most of the time. And you know that it’s the adjustments – those little, seemingly insignificant corrections in direction – that have the most power in your life.”
I was so encouraged by that and I know it applies in our spiritual journey too!
Thank you for the reminder to speak encouragement into other people’s lives and to make them feel seen!
Praying God’s rich blessings for you!!
@gritandglory says:
oooooh… i like that about those “little, seemingly insignificant corrections in direction”! so true!
@kedamak says:
Praying for you friend! I agree with Ben’s words. You are an amazing woman and no one’s actions gets to decide otherwise. Your story and the courage you are displaying in sharing your journey is breathing life into more people than you can imagine. Sending lots of love your way from the Carolinas.
Being seen is so powerful. This winter I was cleaning off my car in the midst of yet another snow storm and a new friend asked if he could do it for me. It was simple, but amazingly powerful for me. I don’t think he realized what he had done, but it spoke volumes to my heart that was feeling puny and invisible.
Alece, it amazes me the things that God continues to teach you and how you continue to receive them and share them.
In this year where courage has been my word, I cannot describe the courage that has come because of people around me speaking life giving words to me. Reminding me of who God is and who He has made me and what faith is.