Have you ever walked into a group of people and encountered a glance of suspicion, followed by either a longer stare or by forced and awkward politeness? The atmosphere and conversation noticeably changes and you become acutely aware that you are seen as “other.” Maybe you sense it’s because of your race or your gender, or your age. Well, that happened to me today. It certainly isn’t the first time. Nor will it be the last. But no matter how many times I’ve experienced it, it is always unpleasant.
I ignored it, played it off and asked one of the vendors some questions about his product. He was nice enough, didn’t treat me rudely but I sensed he was trying hard to compensate for the vendor right next to him who wasn’t trying at all. Finally, I thanked him and left. As I headed for home I said to the Lord. “Phew! Thank You, Lord, that You never make me feel that way when I walk into Your presence.”
When I got home, I read my Scripture passage for the day and it was as if the Lord was speaking to me specifically about the situation through the words of David. “O LORD, You have searched me and You know me. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD. …For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made… How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand” (Psalm 139).
He’s never suspicious of me because He knows me. He doesn’t despise my appearance because He made me. He’s not thinking evil thoughts of me because I am precious to Him. Therefore, no matter what anyone else thinks of me, or why they think it, in the estimation of the One who matters most, I am treasured.
Isn’t it cool how personally the Lord cares for us? He took a very familiar truth, brought it freshly to life for me and applied it to my present situation to encourage me. That’s but one example of why I keep talking about how marvelous He is.
Leave a Reply