What He teaches me when no one else notices…
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
There are nights when the world feels distant, when the soul aches with quiet questions, and when even the warmth of home cannot shake the stillness that settles over the heart. Last night was one of those nights. I wrote these words exactly as they came to me—raw, unfiltered, and filled with the nearness of Jesus in the loneliness:
There are moments like tonight when I am sitting amongst my feelings that I am shrouded in isolation. When these feelings arise, I can be sitting or standing in a crowded room, yet I feel that no one even notices. Just like tonight, I am using the kitchen thongs to remove Liam’s pizza rolls from the air fryer, and I find myself quietly pondering how Jesus must have felt when no one realized He would soon be flogged, be nailed to a cross, and be left to die.
He with all His omnipotence knew His upcoming sacrifice while even the people He loved and trusted didn’t seem to understand the gravity of the upcoming tragedy that would soon become the greatest act of sacrifice that has ever existed.
Who gave comfort to my Savior other than His Father and the Holy Spirit? Who noticed His suffering? Who recognized His psychological torment at Gethsemane? Who wept for Him as the days approached?
Jesus sat at tables with sinners and stood in front of crowds, but did anyone truly recognize His divinity, His obedience, His sacrifice? Did His own mother grasp the concept of birthing her own Savior?
In Jesus’ despair and isolation, He cried out to His Father in the garden of Gethsemane while the disciples slept without a worry or a care. He was so tormented about His impeding doom that He sweat drops of blood. He asked for the cup to pass from Him, but the answer was NO. Jesus gave up His own will to follow the will of the Father regardless of His feelings or the consequences He would suffer.
As I ponder all of it, certainly I can manage a moment of feeling isolated. Don’t I have the same options of support that Jesus had? No, I actually have more! I have the King of Kings who sits at the right hand of the Father as my advocate, and He ushered in the Holy Spirit unto my heart on the day of my salvation. Praise the Father for His will because my Jesus made a way for me! He will make a way for you! Just give Him and opportunity to sever all the ties that bind you to the suffering of this world! Choose Him today.
If you have already accepted Him, call out to Jesus just as He called out to His Father in the garden. Prayer is the greatest aspect of spiritual warfare because it brings the concerns of the sheep to the Shepherd. He will never leave or forsake you. He always leaves the 99 for the one!! Hope is not lost. You are not alone.
When our hearts feel unseen, when isolation creeps in with silent weight, we are not abandoned. Jesus felt that same ache—of being misunderstood, overlooked, even by those closest to Him. And yet, He chose the will of the Father. In our own moments of silence, may we find connection with the Savior who knows every sorrow and still chose love.
Friend, He sees you. He has walked the path of isolation so that you would never have to walk alone again. So today, or whenever those quiet moments return, lean into the truth: Jesus understands. He is absolute. He is with you.
Scripture Study: When No One Noticed
📖 Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV)
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses… Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace.”
📖 Luke 22:39–46 (ESV)
“And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
— Luke 22:44
Read
- Luke 22:39–46
- Matthew 26:36–46
- Hebrews 4:15–16
- Psalm 34:18
Contemplative Questions
- How does Jesus’ prayer in the garden show both His humanity and His divinity?
What do you notice about His words, tone, and posture in prayer? - Who was supposed to be there for Jesus in His hour of need?
How do their actions reflect how people in our lives may unintentionally fail us? - What does it mean that Jesus sweat drops of blood?
How seriously should we take the spiritual and emotional burden He carried? - How can we respond when we feel like no one sees our suffering—when we feel alone even in a crowd?
- Why is it significant that Jesus still submitted to the will of the Father?
What does that mean for our own surrender?
Personal Reflection
In quiet moments like the one I described—air frying pizza rolls and feeling the heaviness of being unseen—what do you believe Jesus is trying to teach you about His nearness?
Write a short prayer or journal entry using Jesus’ own words:
“Not my will, but Yours be done.”
Reflect on an area of your life where surrender is difficult, but necessary.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for sitting with me in the silence. Thank You for understanding my isolation and for never turning away from my pain. Help me to remember that You endured the cross for love—and that love includes me. Remind me that when no one else sees, You do. When no one else hears, You listen. I give You this moment. Meet me here. Amen.
Challenge This Week
Spend time each day in silent prayer—no requests, no agenda. Just sit with Jesus.
Even if it’s just five minutes, acknowledge His presence in your loneliness.
📖 Meditate on Hebrews 4:16 each time you feel unseen:
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
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