Seeing the Unseen in Our Everyday Lives

In the rhythm of daily life, we constantly engage with others. Yet even in the busiest crowds, there are hearts that feel invisible. They are longing to be noticed, known, and valued. You may have felt that yourself at one time or another.

God’s Word assures us of a powerful truth: we are never invisible to Him. Psalm 139 reminds us that He knows us–our thoughts, our movements, even the words we haven’t yet spoken. In His presence, we are fully seen and deeply known.

But as we rest in that comfort, we’re also called to extend it. Many around us, especially those who don’t yet know Jesus, remain unseen by human eyes. They walk through life unnoticed, unheard, and untouched by the love we’ve received. What if we became the ones who truly saw them?

A group often overlooked is the Deaf community. A friend of mine saw the need and shared the Jesus Film at a local Deaf Club. Reading subtitles, even in their native language, can be a challenge. Yet that day, a student encountered Jesus and chose to follow Him. Today, he leads Bible translation efforts for the Deaf in his country.

In a similar way, a friend of mine has a gift for seeing the hearts of those around her. One morning at breakfast, our server seemed upset and distracted. Sensing something deeper, my friend shared a short video about God’s love from her phone. The server’s demeanor softened. The Lord helped my friend to see the eternal worth of someone often unseen.

When I was in high school, one of the boys in my grade had a difficult home life. He sat next to me in English class, and you could tell life hadn’t been kind to him by the way he looked and smelled. Most people didn’t notice him—except for a group of Christian guys. They included him in their circle of friends. This gesture of friendship helped him feel accepted, and he heard the gospel. These teenage guys saw him, and he changed because of it.

In Genesis 16, we meet a servant named Hagar, mistreated by the woman she served. She carried a child fathered by her master. Overwhelmed and unsure of what to do, she fled into the wilderness. But even there, God saw her. He spoke with compassion, offering hope and a promise: her son would become a great nation. In awe of His kindness, Hagar gave God a name—El Roi, “The God who sees me.”

Jesus sees those the world overlooks. He invites us to see with Him. As we draw closer to Jesus, we begin to notice others beyond their needs to their eternal value. Ask Him to open your eyes today. Because when we see others through His love, lives can change. He is El Roi, the God who sees, and He calls us to be people who see, too.

Application Questions:

• Who in your daily life might feel unseen and how can you reflect God’s love by truly noticing them?
• In what ways has God shown you that you are fully seen and known by Him?

Prayer:

"Lord, thank You for seeing me, for knowing my heart and loving me fully. Open my eyes to those around me who feel invisible. Help me to see with Your compassion, and to reflect Your love in every interaction. Make me more like You, El Roi, the God who sees. Amen."

Jill Hadlock
Orlando, USA
Writer Jesus Film Global Mobilization