Feeling Noticed and Finding Self-Worth – Thoughts from the Edges

Feeling Noticed and Finding Self-Worth

Pastor Calvin Cook

February 3, 2026

Isaiah 43:4 (NIV)

I recently ministered with someone whose words have continued to nag at my heart and soul. These words come from a person who has gone through a lot, some of the situations self-induced some caused by what others have done and how this person has been treated by others, society but more explicitly by those that were thought to be trusted.

The words that were shared were “no one cares, I am alone, I have nothing, no one loves me”. Maybe at some point in all our lives we have been in that place, even made some of those comments and felt that same way.

We all go through moments in life when our deepest pain is that we feel invisible. We can be surrounded by people and still feel unseen. We serve, give, show up, and yet quietly wonder if anyone truly notices. Over time, that unnoticed feeling can chip away at our sense of worth, leaving us questioning our value.

Scripture speaks gently but very deeply and profoundly into this situation and state of being. The verse that speaks to me this morning came through some reading in preparing for a sermon some weeks ago and has become a highlighted underlined verse in my Bible it is from Isaiah 43:4 “ Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.”

To me this verse is speaking that God does not merely see us in a general sense; He notices us personally. Isaiah reminds us that we are precious, honored, and loved in God’s sight. Not because of what we accomplish, how productive we are, or how others perceive us, but because we belong to Him.

When I was speaking with my new friend, I was humbled that God had planted these words from Isaiah at the top of my mind and remembrance. Giving thanks through faithful reading of scripture I had the right words for the right time and situation. 

This morning while I think of new friends, myself, and many others who we encounter without even knowing what they are going through and pass by not offering a word of encouragement. I thought about how throughout the Bible how God is drawn to the overlooked. He notices David in the fields as a young boy, Moses and his stumbling way of speaking, the Shepherds on a hillside outside of Bethlehem, some fisherman going about their own business,  a widow placing her last coins in the offering, and the woman who quietly reached through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment for healing. God’s love consistently notices those who feel unloved, disrespected, at the edge of life, and those hurt and feeling insignificant.

Self-worth begins to heal when we stop measuring our value by recognition and start grounding it in relationship. Not the kind of relationship where we get what we want out of someone and then move on.  Our worth is not something we can earn ; it is something we receive. We receive it by relationships where it is not about satisfaction but just about being present. Before we do anything right or wrong, before we succeed or fail, God names us as loved as His beloved!

If today you feel unnoticed, by family, friends, by society and even unfortunately by the church, pause and let this truth settle in your heart: God sees you fully. He notices your quiet faithfulness, your silent prayers, your endurance, and your tears. Nothing offered in love is ever wasted in His presence.

Where have you been seeking affirmation instead of resting in God’s notice? What would change if you truly believed you are precious in His sight today? Let your identity rest not in being applauded, but in being known by God. Be kind, be humble, and show God’s love to everyone you meet.

Prayer: Lord, when I feel unseen and undervalued, remind me that You notice me. Help me to anchor my worth in Your love rather than in the approval of others. Teach me to live from the security of being Yours. Amen.

One final thought: Also outlined in my Bible is 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Someone today needs an encouraging word, not just the people you know but also the stranger you come in contact with. The world will change when we encourage and build up instead of destroying and tearing apart.