My neighborhood is bursting with color right now. Our next door neighbor has a gorgeous dogwood tree full of pink and white flowers, one that delights me each spring with its blossoms (and disappoints me when they inevitably fall to the ground). The rose bush outside Adrienne’s bedroom window has tiny buds and shoots all over its branches, and barrels of tulips and daffodils can be seen on front porches up and down the street.
As winter has begun fading away, I’ve started wishing I knew more about plants. The beautiful, often unruly yellow flowering bushes I love so much are called forsythia – but I only know that after some serious googling. And I can identify those tulips and daffodils like a pro, but the other blooming plants around here are a mystery.
It doesn’t take a green thumb to appreciate God’s artwork, though. Broad strokes of fuschia and fuzzy dots of white against dark branches reaching toward the turquoise sky line the roads we take to Annalyn’s school each morning. On our short commute I point out to Annalyn my favorite blossoms and blooms, and we’ve had friendly debates about the prettiest ones.
But a few days ago, my little drama queen got herself all worked up because all the lovely plants we’ve been admiring are situated firmly in other people’s yards. “I wish WE had a pretty tree! It’s not fair! It’s like . . . like . . . we were SKIPPED!”
I laughed at her melodrama, but the truth is I’ve felt like that, too.
Many times I’ve looked around and noticed the blooms in other people’s yards and wondered, “When is going to be my turn? Why don’t I have any flowers? God? Did you . . . did you . . . skip me?”
Maybe you’ve felt that way, too?
When you’re waiting for a promotion or a second interview, when you’re praying for a baby or a spouse, when you’re hoping that this showing, this conversation, this application or this audition will be the one.
Maybe you’ve looked around at your neighborhood, your family or your small group, your classmates or your co-workers, your book club or your aerobics class or your ministry team – and wondered, “Am I the only one left? Will it ever be my turn? . . . Why does everyone else get [fill in the blank] except me?”
I don’t know what you’re waiting for today. What dreams seem to come true for everyone else for you, what hopes are harder to hold onto every day that passes. I don’t know exactly how it feels for you to wonder if you’ve been overlooked, forgotten, skipped.
But I do know this: God has not forgotten you, and He will not skip you.
The Bible says God has written your name on the palms of His hands, that He would never forget you. Jesus said, “What is the price of five sparrows — two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”
And well before that, Moses told the people of Israel that God will not leave nor forsake you, that He won’t fail or abandon you. In other words? He won’t skip you.
I don’t say that in the hang in there, kitten poster sort of way. And I don’t say that in a comfortable, all my dreams have come true way.
I say this with the hard-won confidence and faith of someone who has been left behind and felt overlooked, someone who has felt hope slipping out of her fingers more than once, someone who will certainly feel that way again. But I’m also someone who has been surprised to find a previously plain [metaphorical] plant blossoming in her front yard.
If you’re feeling overlooked today, like you’ve been skipped when the blossoms or blessings were handed out, don’t lose hope. Your wait may be longer, your path may be curvier, but He has not forgotten you.
He has not skipped you or overlooked you.
Your spring is coming.
Thank you for these words, they are just what my heart needed today.
So glad you were encouraged, Alexandra. Thank you for reading!
I dealt with this in a very harsh way just a few weeks ago. I was visiting my Kindergartener son at his school. I had worked at this same school until he was 2 years old as a counselor– my dream job in which I worked closely with the staff and students. I always enjoy visiting because I see a bunch of old friends. Well, this day one of the teachers came by while I was waiting in the hallway and said, “hey, we were just talking about you the other day and NO ONE could remember your name! I STILL can’t remember it!” She laughed it off, but I was devastated. I felt invisible, forgotten, and unvalued. It took me days to recover and remember that God still sees me and he thought I was worth Dying for. People will always let us down, but praise God that He never will.
Oh Jess. I can’t believe someone would say that to you! I’m so sorry that happened – but so encouraged by your reminder that the God of this world remembers each of us and loves each of us so much that He died for us. Amen and amen!
Love, love, love this! Sharing to FB in hopes that it will encourage some of my friends, as it did me. There can never be too many reminders of His great love for us!
Thanks for sharing it, Lara. I’m so glad it encouraged you!
YES, I have felt overlooked and skipped. When I read just the title, I didn’t think it applied to me (was thinking about my work going unnoticed — I don’t feel like that as much as I think others might, just because I don’t think I work as hard or as well as others), but good thing I read it, because it definitely does apply to me! I need to remember I’m not alone in that feeling; my mind always amplifies things (and minimizes other things ;) ).
Yeah, I really think all of us feel this way sometimes. (And, well, some of us feel it all the time…!)
This was exactly what I needed to read today, and it was the second time today I came across that exact verse about the sparrows. Thank you so much for saying exactly what I needed to hear. I got goosebumps and tears filled my eyes – I really think God was speaking to me through you. Now I just need to get the message and stop stressing about money, taxes, self-employment and getting enough work! Thanks again. :-)
Sara, I am so SO glad this post spoke to you. And knowing it was the second time that verse came to you is amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Yes! Loved this! Thank you so much for sharing. My spring is coming.
So glad this encouraged you, Desiree!
I just have to share that the timing of this post is such a God thing! I recently wrote & recorded a song called “Not Forgotten” about that exact message. You are not forgotten by God. I was in a dark time and knew my “spring was coming” but I had to wait and this song came out of that. It’s been so powerful to see God use it to minister to some family members and friends who have lost a baby at birth or in utero, and how it’s ministered to friends with depression, chronic pain, loneliness…etc God is so amazing. Here is the link if you’d like to listen. I pray God will continue to use it to minister to others. You are loved and known deeply by God.
https://nothingperfectproject.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/its-time/
I just found this on Pinterest. I was going to say “stumbled across it” but it was more like devinely planted in my line of vision. Thank you for writing this. I won’t take up the space listing everything, but in the last two years, I’ve lost my job, home and about to lose our car. It seems our Father has forgotten about me and my family. I really wonder sometimes if God even knows we exist. Your blog has reminded me that God’s timing is not our timing. So, even tho it’s late October, I’m going to look ahead for my Spring.
Oh Shani, I’m so sorry to hear about all the struggles you’re facing right now. God has absolutely not forgotten you. He is right there with you, heartbroken for your pain. I’m glad my post was an encouragement to you. And I agree that it was no accident you found a reminder of God’s love.
yes, yes, yes. thank you for this. my heart drank up your words like a glass of cold lemonade.
Really? Oh, Anna, I’m so glad. You are most definitely not forgotten or overlooked, friend. I adore you. <3
I have just become aware of your blog and what a blessing it is. So many encouraging words and in the extract of your book. I have not heard such encouraging andf non-judgemental words in years as I live in a country that is perfectionist. This is hell on the soul and mine is almost dead but G-d has helped me to keep up my resilience and appreciate how valuable the words can be. Thanks a million for your words and keep it coming.