Do you ever feel unseen, unheard, and unknown? Though centuries apart from your life today, the women who knew Jesus felt similar fears and insecurities. Join Pastor and Bible teacher Paige Allen as she takes a second look at the life-changing encounters of unnamed women who came face-to-face with Jesus. Although their names are not etched in the writings of Scripture, they are etched in His heart.
Baker Publishing
Day 1
Scriptures: Luke 8:48, Isaiah 43:1-2, Psalms 46:10
He Knows Your Name
I found myself in a room yesterday where I was surrounded by impressive people. We were all wearing name tags to be friendly and spur on conversation, but as I slapped on a bright smile and ventured into the waters of making small talk, I found myself feeling as though most people were looking over my shoulder rather than taking any interest in my name written in cursive. It’s in moments like this that questions lodged deep within my heart seem to come to the surface. The questions sound like this: Does anyone really see me? Does my life make any sort of impact? Does anyone know my name?
I’ve discovered that as these questions try to take up space, hope is found by simply opening God’s Word to stories of brave women who are nameless and yet completely known by Jesus. These women could have blended in or been swept away in their own despair, but Jesus saw them, stopped for them, and encountered them with His transformative presence.
The story of the woman with the issue of blood is one such story, and it’s fairly well known as a tale of a tenacious woman who pushed her way through a bustling crowd to receive her healing from Jesus. But beyond her healing, I’m stopped in my tracks when I read about Jesus stopping the crowds and making space for this overlooked and scandalous woman. She was a woman who had many labels at this time: sick, isolated, unwanted, alone, poor, and desperate, just to name a few. The world had named her unimportant, but Jesus stopped the masses to make it clear He was exchanging that worthless label for one of His own! She was a woman known for her issue, but during His brief time with her, He exchanged her issue for identity. He healed the issue, but He also called her daughter.
We can get so focused on our issue or the labels of society that we forget the truth- that the name that matters most is always the one that comes from His lips. What if today you took a few minutes to quiet the noise, lay down the labels, and simply ask Him, “Who do you say I am?” What might you hear?
Day 2
Scriptures: Luke 13:10-13, Isaiah 53
He Knows Your Pain
We meet another nameless woman who is bent over with debilitating pain in Luke 13. She has been sick for eighteen years, and yet there she is, bravely showing up to worship at her synagogue on the Sabbath. When I read about this woman and her encounter with Jesus, I always pause when I reach verse 12:
“But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him” (NKJV).
Some days we need to be reminded that Jesus sees us. This woman was physically small, and it would have been easy to overlook her on that fateful day, but even when we feel small, Jesus is the God who sees.
And Jesus doesn’t just see from a distance. No, He sees and He takes action. There is a Hebrew word, hesed, in Scripture that is often translated mercy or compassion. It embodies Jesus in this moment with this woman. He has compassion on her because He sees her and then He acts. He calls her to Himself, heals her, and then defends her before critics.
So when we say that God sees us, we need to realize that it’s far more than a glance or a brief notice. It is a recognition of who we are and what we need most. Jesus sees and He responds.
He is not afraid of our pain or the mess we find ourselves in. He is holy and perfect, and yet He also understands the pain that comes with being human.
Isaiah 53 is a prophetic word about Jesus before He came to heal this woman. If you go read it and look at the verbs that describe Him, you might be surprised to find that He was despised, rejected, afflicted, and wounded. Jesus has felt the pain of being human, and when He sees one of His daughters in pain, He does not look away but embodies hesed (love in action). He sees and takes a step closer.
I challenge you to go read Isaiah 53 and circle the verbs. Which one describes the pain you are feeling right now? Can you embrace the truth that He recognizes this pain and will walk with you today?
Like this woman bent over, it takes bravery to show up for a devotional when in the midst of pain, but when our bravery meets the loving gaze of Jesus, things change.
Day 3
Scriptures: Matthew 15:21-28, Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 5:14
He Knows Your Voice
Did you know that your voice is as unique as your fingerprints? It’s true! Even though you might sound like your sister or even a stranger, science says that no two voices are exactly alike. We each carry a distinctive sound that reflects who we are.
One gospel story about a brave woman who uses her voice is found in Matthew 15. A Syrophoenician woman approaches Jesus and asks Him to heal her child. She had a lot of obstacles to overcome to use her voice. Her gender, race, and station in life were all stacked against her, and yet she bravely comes to the table and offers her request to Jesus.
Just as she’s worked up her courage to speak, the disciples begin complaining about her presence with these words: “Tell her to go away . . . She is bothering us . . .” (Matthew 15:23 nlt).
Sometimes we believe the lie that we are a bother to Jesus, and it impacts our voice.
We cut our prayers short, believing the lie that our needs are less important than others. We stop asking Jesus for the things our hearts most desire—the spouse, the child, the job, and the opportunity—because the enemy tells us we sound like a squeaky wheel. Or we stay away from Jesus, accepting the lie that because of our past, our name, or the way we look, we don’t deserve His attention.
Can I tell you the truth about Jesus today? You are never a bother. Never.
The enemy knows the power that is possible when our prayers meet the ears of Jesus, and so of course he wants to keep us quiet!
The disciples may have whispered hurtful words and complained, but Jesus was true to His nature and listened. He had a lively conversation with this precious woman, and He ended their exchange by calling her faith great and healing her little girl.
Jesus does not call this woman a bother. He calls her beloved.
And the same is true for you today. Jesus calls you beloved. And when you use your voice, His ear is turned to hear.
What if, like this brave woman, we ignored the thought that we were a bother and instead lifted our voices with passion and honesty? What if you used your voice today to connect with the Creator of your soul, who not only loves to hear your voice but recognizes its unique sound?
Day 4
Scriptures: Luke 7:36-50, Romans 12:1, Philippians 4:18
He Knows Your Sacrifice
In Luke 7 we read about another nameless woman who makes a scene in the home of a Pharisee. Jesus is attending a banquet at the Pharisee’s house and finds Himself intentionally snubbed, as the standard greetings of hospitality are withheld from Him. This woman, labeled only as “sinful” (v. 37), notices how He is rejected and decides to act.
She takes a brave step forward, sacrificing both her costly oil and her own reputation, as the scornful crowd begins to whisper about this brazen act. There are layers to this powerful story, but let me simply say this: her sacrifice was costly, but it was seen and rewarded by the One person in the room who mattered most.
Some days I wonder if anyone notices the sacrifices I make. I have a feeling you can relate. We sacrifice sleep, money, praise, time, desires, preferences, and being right, and some days we just want someone to take notice.
Today, take heart. Jesus notices.
He knows about the sleep you give up because a child needs comforting or the house needs cleaning. He knows you stay awake a little longer or wake up a little earlier to go the extra mile at work or to bake something for a friend recently home from the hospital. He knows.
He knows the sacrifice you’ve made as you guard your mouth. The way you honor others and are a safe space for another’s pain. The way you choose to speak life even though you are tempted to gossip. He sees the arguments you could win, but choose to bow out of, for the sake of the relationship. He sees the sacrifice and He knows.
He sees the burdens you carry. The aging parent you care for faithfully and the words you pray for others daily. He knows how you continue to love the family member who hurled hurtful words your way. He sees.
And He sees the choices you are making with your finances. The decision to wait rather than purchase on impulse. He sees your generosity and the impact your dollars make in a country across the ocean.
Your sacrifice is not in vain. It does not go unnoticed. In fact, it is our sacrifice that is called a pleasing aroma to God. He notices what goes unnoticed by others, and He calls it a soothing and pleasing gift to Him.
Day 5
Scriptures: John 4:1-42, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
He Knows Your Story
I’ve heard the statement “God doesn’t want to use you, He wants to love you” going around a lot lately, and while I agree, I think teachings about God wanting to use us stem from our own internal desire to have purpose in the kingdom of God. We want our lives to have significance, and we want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
As our world grows in communication ability and changes at lightning speed, we’ve equated impact with stages, microphones, viral videos, and the “number of followers”. We’ve believed the lie that the extraordinary must be witnessed by the masses.
But what if influence is less about being known by the world and more about simply saying yes to the One who knows your story and the day ahead?
What’s amazing to me is that although we do not know their names, we are still learning from the stories of anonymous women centuries later. The woman at the well is a prime example of this. I have a feeling you likely already know her story and are familiar with the fact that this marginalized woman became a missionary to her entire village after a transformational conversation with Jesus.
She was overlooked, unwanted, and without any stage in her community until she came close to Jesus. Her encounter with Him not only radically changed her life, but also emboldened her to share her story and make Jesus known. The story of this nameless woman changed her current world and still changes hearts today.
It’s okay to want to be used by God, but it’s important for us to check our motives with these questions: Do I want to bring God glory, or do I want a light shined on me? Will my heart be content with the impact I make for His name even if my own name is never known?
Your life has a purpose, and Jesus knows your name. As you settle into the simple yet profound truth that you are seen and known and loved by Him, the desire to be known by the masses fades, and contentment to simply share His story grows. After all, it’s not your name that has the power to transform lives, but the precious name of Jesus.