He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. –Luke 19:1-4
Being a relatively short person at 5’2”, I can identify with Zacchaeus. Back in the days before the COVID pandemic, when it was OK to gather in large groups, it was easy for me to go unnoticed in a crowd.
Whether you are short or not, you have probably experienced the feeling of being “unnoticed” at one time or other.
Maybe you spent a considerable amount of time and effort preparing a great meal for your family, and no one complimented you or even said “thank you”. Maybe none of your family or friends remembered to send you a card on your birthday. Maybe even though you put in a lot of practice time and really upped your game, the coach doesn’t pick you to be a starter on the team.
It can hurt when we feel no one notices us.
Thankfully, scripture assures us over and over again that we don’t have to climb a tree or take some extra measures to get the attention of our God. He is always with us! Check out Isaiah 41:10, Proverbs 5:21, Psalms 121 & 139 and Joshua 1:9. These are just a few of the passages that remind us of his continual presence with us.
Prayer: Dear Father, comfort those who may be feeling unnoticed. Open our eyes to see those we need to notice so we can show them your love. Amen.
– Contributed by LaDonna Johnson
Bible Reading
Read Luke 19 and record any insights you gain here.
Call to Connection
Reflect on a time when someone noticed you in an impactful way. Journal a prayer thanking God for their impact on your life.