The Overlooked

I know who you are. You may feel like you’re the only one, but I’ve been in your shoes more times than you can count, and I sympathize with your plight.

You are the one who constantly gets overlooked. The one who busts their rear-end while everyone else gets the accolades. It seems like everyone else gets the fanfare, the promotions at work, the likes on social media, the praise and pats on the back, and the credit for good ideas in your family, your circle of friends, or your church groups.

There’s an old saying that says, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” yet when you finally decide to speak up, it seems like all of the proverbial “grease” has already been doled out to others. Even though you are seemingly doing all the right things and making sure all of the “boxes” are checked, everyone else gets the favor instead of you. You may have put in the time, the mileage, the heart, the blood, sweat, and tears, but it’s seemingly gotten you nowhere.

Yes, you may be among the unappreciated, the excluded, the forgotten, and the unpopular. You can feel let down, frustrated, depressed, neglected, and emotionally and spiritually drained.

But there are three things that I’m going to tell you that not only will steer your thinking back to a more Biblical perspective but can invigorate your soul and bring peace in all your actions.

God sees what you do. The Lord Himself stated, “For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from Me, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes.” – Jeremiah 16:17.

It may seem like others overlook you and your efforts, but our Heavenly Father knows it all. In Psalms, King David proclaimed this about God’s omniscience:

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.”

– Psalms 139:1-6

Since nothing, good or bad, is removed from God’s sight, you can take solace in the fact that He sees you. Don’t give up on your mission. Keep on serving Him and being humble.

Don’t be vindictive towards those whom upon more blessings or favor falls. Praise your friends, family, colleagues, and even your enemies when good things happen to them. Celebrate with them and be supportive of them. Who knows? Good fortune happening to others may be part of God’s greater plan; we just might not be able to see the big picture of how things unfold over the course of multiple decades or even centuries. But even if things may be genuinely “unfair,” just know that God has the final say as the perfect Judge and final Arbiter of eternity. It’s our job to love and bless everyone no matter what happens (Romans 12:9-21).

Lastly, make sure that your overall motive is not looking to impress others. It’s easy to fall into the deadly trap of pride by desiring the praise, attention, and approval of people. The Apostle Paul addressed this beautifully, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10. Seek to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and please Him in all you do.

So brothers and sisters, don’t get tripped up by the fact that you may be overlooked by people at times. Instead, adjust your attitude and fall in line with Biblical thinking. Then you can start experiencing the sheer joy and pleasure of loving and obeying God.