“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” Psalms 139:13-16
Lately I’ve begun to notice something—the less I’m noticed, the more I start questioning whether my work actually matters. Indeed, I begin to question whether I even matter. Do you ever wonder if anyone notices how hard you work? Don’t you want to be validated by others? I sure do! God is faithful to alert me to this dangerous thinking. Our identity was never meant to depend on an audience; rather…
…our greatest identity should be in Almighty Jesus.
The starting point is simple.
God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)
The identity of the image-bearer was assigned before we did a single productive thing. Before I do anything, there’s something I already am. After I was born again, I was given an irrevocable birthright because I am a completely new creature in Christ instead of merely an improved version of my old self:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
This “new creation” does not need a “thank-you” or “great job” from those around me because my value is not dependent on someone else’s recognition. Belonging is very different from approval.
Approval is earned and can be revoked, but belonging, when God is the One granting it, is not.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:16-17)
We are not hired hands hoping to be kept on staff. As born again children of God, we’re already inside the family with an inheritance that no amount of underappreciation can erase.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12)
The word “right” there is a standing. The Psalm we read above gives that standing a timeline that reaches back before we were even a thought in the minds of our parents:
Your [God’s] eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. (Psalm 139:16)
Each day I’ve spent working hard was already written down by God. It was not random or wasted, even when it was overlooked by everyone in the room. God saw the day before I saw it. That kind of planning doesn’t leave room for a hustle that goes to waste.
My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (Psalm 139:15)
If I wasn’t hidden from God then, in the most unseen moment of my existence, I am certainly not hidden from Him now, in the unseen hours of ordinary work.
So, what do I do with the part of me that still wants to be seen?
I simply need to stop looking for affirmation from the room and start working for the only audience that really matters—my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My greatest purpose is to glorify Hm.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:17)
When my motivation shifts from desiring to be noticed to desiring to give God glory—I possess the greatest affirmation I need. I have the peace and satisfaction that come from doing exactly what I’m designed to do instead of starving myself by feeding on the adulation of others, which is never enough.
In God’s presence, we know exactly who we are, and whose glory we’re working for, regardless of the opinions of anyone around us. Drawing closer to Him by developing His mind and His attitudes produces the best reward for our hustle. Indeed, “delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart,” is a promise that God keeps every day! (Psalm 37:4)
Where in your life are you hoping to be recognized? What would change if you believed each day’s work, when done for God’s glory, would be recognized for eternity? Ah, my friend, when we seek God with all our heart, soul, and mind—we discover that His presence is truly our greatest treasure!
Prayer:
Father, thank You that You saw me and planned my days before I was even formed. Thank You that in Christ I am a new creation, secure before I ever accomplished anything worth noticing. I confess how much I still crave recognition, and I ask You to loosen its grip on me. Remind me that I am Your child and heir, and that every unnoticed hour I’ve worked for Your glory is already written down and treasured by You. Let my hustle be offered for Your glory instead of aimed at anyone’s applause. Teach me to find my peace and belonging in You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
