That childhood pain of feeling overlooked, misunderstood, or not-good-enough never went away. You mask it well behind a smile, hard work, selflessly devoting yourself to your people. But you feel that opened-up ache when you’re not invited, praised for what you can produce, unintentionally dismissed.

It feels like confirmation. You’re visible but not truly seen.

No wonder you try so hard to prove your worth. You’re trying to believe it yourself.

And all your striving efforts come out sideways because you can’t outwork, outperform, out-perfect that nagging, self-critical voice.

Maybe that’s why you’ve got a default answer when it comes to your Christian life: yes. Yes to the Bible study. Yes to leading a second small group. Yes to serving in the nursery, packing food, helping with special events. For sure yes to the women’s retreat. Angel tree kids. Prayer nights. Jesus prom.

You feel guilty even thinking about turning down an opportunity to be Jesus’s hands and feet. Because that’s what gets God’s attention, right?!

 

Links mentioned:

1. The UpperRoom worship set I mentioned.
2. Cultivating a Missional Life: A 30-Day Devotional to Gently Help You Open Your Heart, Home, and Life to Your Neighbors. Download a free sample from the resource library, and if you want the rest it’s $4.99 on Kindle or $6.99 for the paperback. Grab the bonus 30-day missional living challenge (free with a purchase) to get the most out of the devotional.
3. View the written version of this episode.