Look Forward - Five Days to Joy When You’re Overlooked

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT)

When we feel overlooked, when expectations are broken, when joy feels impossible—an eternal perspective helps us navigate what’s next.

This life is not all there is.

Your story is part of a larger narrative. Today we see dimly, but there will come a day when everything will make sense. Theologians use a big word to describe this kind of perspective: eschatological living. This simply means we frame everything we see with another reality—the now-and-not-yet Kingdom of God.

The Apostle Paul reminds us of this truth in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

This has important implications for the Christ follower. We don’t have to fret when the world seems to be crashing. We don’t need to place our hope upon a leader to notice or validate us. We don’t have to worry about the significance of our silent, unseen work because God sees us and will reward us on the other side.

Not only that, but he will drench our past trauma in grace and love and hope. God already remedied the fall of humankind (injustice, betrayal, disease, a broken humanity, and so much more decay) by sending his Son to die on our behalf. Death did not win. Resurrection is our hope. Someday we will be transformed into who we were meant to be. We are and will forever be included in the family of God.

When life hurts so much, remind yourself of John’s words in Revelation 21:3-5:

“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’ And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’”

There will be a moment when it all will make sense. God will right the wrongs, bring justice to those who experienced injustice, recognize what no one has applauded in us, and heal all our sickness. We will be more alive than we’ve ever been. We will be seen. Noticed.

Considering this future glory of being seen for who you are, don’t give up. Persevere. Minister to others. Love the people in your life. Forgive freely. Move on from bitterness. Seek to bless the family and city God has put you in.

PRAYER:

Jesus, I want to move blessedly forward, no matter how I feel overlooked this week. Help me to leave the past in the past and look forward to the day when everything will be made right. Amen.