I'll send my kids to grab something for me from the pantry, and without a doubt they'll come back in a short amount of time telling me they couldn't find what they were looking for. Usually I'm fairly certain the ingredient is there—not that I've never forgotten—so I go myself and with relative ease locate what I need, with a look of curiosity at the child.
A tiny shrug and, "I just didn't see it Mom"
With a defeated sigh, I might admonish them to look harder next time or pay more attention to what they're doing. And isn't that what we long for in our relationships too?! Just see me, look harder, I'm right here!
In You Are Not Forgotten: Discovering the God Who Sees the Overlooked and Disregarded, Christine Hoover helps us unpack the hurt we've experienced and shows us more about the character of God and how he both sees and intervenes for us.
Let's learn more about it.
You Are Not Forgotten | Book Review
Content
Content
Purpose of the Book
When you feel unseen, ours is a God who sees.
Table of Contents
Part One: Overlooked, Disregarded, and Hurting
Chapter 1: Lost and Languishing in Unseenness
Chapter 2: Naming Unseenness
Chapter 3: The Pain of Unseenness
Part Two: Hiding
Chapter 4: Hiding in Plain Sight
Chapter 5: Hiding from Obedience
Part Three: Hidden
Chapter 6: Hidden in Christ
Part Four: He Sees and Acts on Your Behalf
Chapter 7: He Sees So He Intercedes
Chapter 8: He Sees So He Delivers
Chapter 9: He Sees So He Advocates
Chapter 10: He Sees and Is Pleased
Part Five: Restored Vision
Chapter 11: Seeing with New Eyes
Conclusion: Seen Through
Summary
Part one takes us through the emotion and experience of invisibility and disregard, through the lens of Hagar’s story. Next she explores how we might contribute to our problems by running or attempting to take control of situations, like Sarah. In part three we recognize God as the one who sees us; how we are hidden in Christ. Then we look at all the ways Christ really sees us and works for us and our good. Finally, the question of application and how then do we see others with a new vision in Christ.
You’ll benefit from the reflection questions at the end of each chapter, to help you thoughtfully engage with the content and your experience.
My Take: The Pain and the Promise
We've lived on another continent as church planters and felt forgotten; in a hospital for months when our youngest was ill and felt alone; and when my gifts and personalities haven't fit well within local culture, felt disregarded.
Whether it's proximity lending distance or standing before someone with a thick fog in between, being unnoticed or unseen feels like a searing pain that can easily become our identity. Sometimes this means we perpetuate our problem by keeping our emotional distance, guarding our hearts against the healing tenderness of vulnerability and connection.
If I'm honest, the hurt has at times led me to blame, to point the finger at someone else, but when I plop myself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, I'm reminded, "the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Ps. 34:8).
There will be suffering in this world, relational awkwardness and mishaps, particularly because we're created for relationship, to know and be known, but we're all very aware how hard it is. The other truth is we've also likely made the same mistakes in our relationships with others, where we've glossed over the heart of another, missed their intention, their gift or their idea.
And, the good news is, the Good News. Because the gospel is a gospel of grace. Grace for me and for you. We're undeserving of second chances, yet the person and work of Christ provides these in abundance. Ever drawing us near, giving us courage to confess and repent and to lead us into right relationship with the Lord and each other. The promise of his faithful presence with us in our hurting and our responding.
For, "he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (2 Cor. 5:15). Living for the glory of God doesn't mean we will never be hurt or unseen, but that we grow in trusting and depending on him through it all.
Have you ever felt unseen or forgotten? How does the gospel give you comfort?
My Recommendation
If you’re struggling with hurt and loneliness, feeling unaccepted and unworthy, this book reminds us God not only looks upon us when others disregard us, He looks after us—and this is a huge source of encouragement and strength for the Christian. That makes this a title you won’t want to miss out on.
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 224
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 5 stars
More Like This
Interview with the Author
Here's a 2 minute clip from the Daily Grace podcast with Christine Hoover
Scriptures About How God Sees Us
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love (Ps. 33:18)
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” (2 Chr. 16:9)
Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord (Jer. 23:24)
She called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Here have I really seen him who sees me?” (Gen. 16:13)
Follow Along
*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and for the opportunity to post an honest review
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