Don’t Look At Me

Nobody ever believes me when I confess that when I was younger, I was painfully shy. I wanted to hide if anyone looked my direction, much less spoke to me and expected a reply. I preferred to blend into the crowd and watch from the sidelines.

I’m not sure when that all changed, but I believe it started when my sister and I were allowed to lead in children’s ministry in our local church as teenagers. As early as fifth grade, I visited in the nursing center at the local hospital regularly, helping with music therapy for the elderly. The ladies who encouraged me in these roles set a fantastic example by their own service. Learning to focus on others kept me from feeling self-conscious.

The girl who used to avoid eye contact as much as possible is now the one scanning the room, ready for a chance to connect, often the first to speak, reaching out and drawing others into conversation. Facilitating friendships through acquaintance, I enjoy introducing people who haven’t realized how much they have in common. While it’s still easy for me to forego the spotlight, I’m not as uncomfortable with it anymore. When I discover that Jesus is our mutual friend, we already have the most important thing in common!

John the Baptist was charged with preparing the way for Messiah. He called the crowds to repentance and baptism. His following grew and he had his own disciples. Once he saw the Spirit descend and heard the voice from heaven proclaim Jesus as the long awaited One, his ministry began to decline as more and more people began following Jesus. His loyal followers questioned him.

“So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”

John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’

It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

John 3:26-30 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.3.26-30.NLT

In the Psalms of King David and the letters of the apostle Paul, I find a similar pattern. Their words begin addressing a group of people in a certain situation and usually before the chapter is half finished, they are addressing God. David often addressed injustice around him but ended praising God as judge. Paul also wrote this way. His letters to a church turned into intercession to God on their behalf. He confronted inconsistencies in the actions of believers in the churches but ended praising God for His faithfulness.

In my own prayers, I see this same principle at work. I begin with what I know. I tell God what I see and He reveals Himself to me. I begin telling Him things that He already knows only to end up praising Him for things He’s already doing. I read once that instead of saying, “God, look how big my problem is,” I should say, “Problem, look how big my God is!” The Holy Spirit shifts my focus from myself to my Creator.

When I was much younger, I wanted to hide from the gaze of others. Now I want to hide behind Jesus. There’s a big difference between hiding from someone and hiding behind someone. Adam and Eve tried unsuccessfully to hide from God, but scripture tells me I am hidden in Christ. Jesus also instructs me to abide in him. That sounds an awful lot like hiding myself in Him.

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Colossians 3:1-3 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/col.3.1-3.NLT

“Abide in Me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

John 15:4-5 NASB1995

https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.15.4-5.NASB1995

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.2.20.NLT

There’s only one reason I choose to share my story. As I write, I begin with my experiences. I write what I see, hear, think, and feel. Maybe you and I have more in common than either of us realize. Maybe you start out hearing me and relating to my story, but I pray you end up hearing Jesus. Only His word is eternal. He is the eternal word!

“So the Word became human and made his home among us.

He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”

John 1:14-15, 18 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.1.14-18.NLT

My words, like my life, are temporary. Scripture says I am a mist that disappears or a flower that fades, but the Word of our God stands forever! (Isaiah 40:8) The Word of God always accomplishes His purpose. (Isaiah 55:11) God’s Word prospers everywhere He sends it!

So I pray with the Psalmist, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and My Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)