The Joy of Being Seen: Day 2 of Joy
He feels your heartache.
Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. — Matthew 9:35-36 CSB
At first glance, this passage doesn’t look like a standard blueprint for joy. It speaks of people who are distressed and abandoned, which sounds more like the stifling weight of the world than a reason to celebrate. However, the joy in this passage isn’t found in the condition of the crowd; it is found in the diligence of the Savior. Jesus didn’t stay behind the safety of temple walls waiting for the hurting to find Him. He went around to all the towns and villages. He moved toward the mess.
Real, sustainable joy begins when we realize we are not invisible. We often let the world determine our value—success, status, or how well we keep it all together. But Jesus looks past the external performance and sees the heart. When He saw the crowds, He didn’t see an annoyance or a drain on His time; He felt compassion. The anchor of our joy is our Shephred who is moved by our struggles and refuses to leave us abandoned.
We can experience joy even in the middle of a distressed season because we know the Shepherd has seen and reached for us. Today, your joy isn’t dependent on your circumstances being perfect; it’s dependent on the fact that the King of the Kingdom has walked into your “town” to find you.
The 90/10 Rule of Being Seen
[read this article on the 90/10 rule]
The 10%: Feeling invisible, distressed, or abandoned by the circumstances of a messy season.
The 90%: The life-giving realization that Jesus has moved toward you, seen your heart, and responded with compassion.
When you anchor your identity in the 90%—the fact that you are seen and wanted by the Savior—the 10% of your current “mess” loses its power to stifle your joy. You aren’t just a face in the crowd; you are a sheep with a Shepherd who refuses to leave you behind.
Instead of trying to fix a problem with your own strength, take a moment to sit with the reality that Jesus is looking at you with compassion. He is the anchor in your storm.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being a Shepherd who moves toward me. When I feel stifled by the demands of life or abandoned by my own expectations, remind me that Your eyes are on me with nothing but compassion. Thank You for the joy of being found. Help me to walk through this day with the carefree heart of a sheep who knows exactly who is leading the way. Amen.