Do You Feel Unnoticed?

The saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers”. But even before May, it seems they couldn’t wait to show off themselves in a blaze of glory when my family and I were driving through the Hill Country last Saturday. The bluebonnets were celebrating. I should have taken a photo of them, but I didn’t. As our walking group made our way out for our morning walk on Tuesday, we noticed beautiful wildflowers growing in an obscure field. I’m sure they are hardly noticed, but we noticed them.

And it occurred to me that there are those who, like those wildflowers, feel unnoticed too. Do you ever feel inadequate; not enough. Not pretty enough. Not smart enough. Not wealthy enough. Not popular enough. Not accomplishing enough. Not holy enough. We all want to be enough. And, sometimes if we’ll just take a walk, we’ll realize we are right where God planted us to show off His glory. If He shows off wildflowers that pop up all on their own, how much more does He want to show His kids off Who He loves beyond description?

Yesterday, after I rode the stationary bike and took to the elliptical equipment for 45 minutes, I decided to continue walking outdoors so I could take in God’s beauty where He shines so brightly. I remembered those wildflowers. I wanted to capture them for this blog that I was writing in my head as I was walking. He began showing me what a glorious scene He had created for me to be in with Him: the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and I walked the path right to the wildflowers. I felt impressed to stop and really look at them.

I recalled Jesus’ words that I had meditated on many times: “Do not worry about your life… walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think He’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do His best for you? What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving.” (Luke 12:26-29, The Message Bible)

Those wildflowers were just there because God wanted them there. No person had planted them. God sent breezes and birds to scatter seeds and He sent rain and sun and grew the flowers. People walk this path every day just behind where I was standing, but I’m sure very few ever walked over to appreciate these flowers. And even those like myself who did notice the wildflowers, how many paused to give thanks and praise to God, our Father?

I think I was hearing God say to me: “Just be my wildflower!” Inadequacy and not enough should never be in your thoughts or actions.” I believe His words are for you, too. “Be like that wildflower before Me. See how beautiful it is? See how happy it is?” Today I’m thanking God for those wildflowers and reminding myself to bloom where I am planted for God – even if no one else seems to notice. That’s okay. I am not inadequate because my Father in heaven notices me lovingly so I can hold my head high and smile in His sunshine! And so can you!