When You’re Not in the Room—But God Still Sees You

“Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.” — Psalm 34:5 (HCSB)

This morning when I woke up I was thinking about something that happened this past week. It wasn’t anything major, but it left me with emotions and feelings I didn’t expect.  You would think at my age that I’ve grown past certain things. I tell myself that certain situations just don’t bother me anymore. But this last week, I was reminded that, even as we grow, there are moments when old feelings can resurface.

This last week, there was a delay in communication about something important. I wasn’t informed until hours after it had happened. There was no malice behind it, but I still found myself feeling left out, wondering why I wasn’t included sooner. At first, I brushed it off, It’s not a big deal, I told myself. Things like this happen. But as the days went on, I realized I wasn’t just frustrated about the delay itself. I had made it all about me.  Ouch 🙁(lol, I know no one else does this only me.)

Instead of focusing on the situation, I found myself thinking, Why wasn’t I told sooner? Was I not important enough to be included? I let the issue become more about my feelings and emotions rather than what had actually happened again ouch. 🙁

Early this morning I was reading Psalm 34 and God used it to gently redirect my heart.  Don’t you love how God does that.  He lets us pout and make it all about us, then he guides us back to reality and himself.

David wrote this Psalm during a time of fear and uncertainty. He was fleeing for his life, pretending to be mad to save himself. His situation was a million times worse than mine, for sure. But in the middle of it all, David made a choice to praise God he said, “I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.” (v.1)

David’s praise wasn’t based on his circumstances. It wasn’t dependent on how things were going or how others treated him. It was about focusing on God’s faithfulness, even when everything around him seemed uncertain.

Then as I continued to read the chapter in verse 5 it says, “Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.”

That’s when the situation came to the surface and I realized that I had been focused on how I felt, my emotions rather than on God’s presence. Instead of focusing on the situation or how others might have been acting, I needed to shift my gaze to Him. When I do that, my heart can find peace and joy, even when circumstances aren’t what I expect.

But I wanted to dig deeper and find out what does it really mean to be “radiant with joy”? To be radiant means more than just having a smile on our face, it speaks of an inner transformation. It’s a joy that shines through, not because everything is perfect, but because the light of God’s love is shining in us. It’s the kind of joy that transcends our circumstances, one that comes from knowing God’s presence is near and that He is good, no matter what happens around us. It’s a joy that lifts our spirits and makes us glow from the inside out, not because we have everything figured out, or understand it’s not all about us, but because we know we are loved, seen, and held by the Creator of the universe.

When we “look to Him,” we become vessels of that joy. Our faces become radiant because we reflect His light. This isn’t about pretending everything is fine when it’s not—it’s about recognizing that joy doesn’t come from our circumstances, but from knowing the One who holds everything in His hands.

Psalm 34 also says: “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.” (v.18) 

Even in our  moments of disappointment, God is near. He sees us—not just when things are falling apart, but even when our thoughts start to spiral or our emotions feel bigger than the situation. His nearness is a steady anchor when our hearts feel shaken.

And here’s what that nearness should do: it should lift our eyes off ourselves and turn them toward Him.

Because if I stay stuck in my own feelings, I’ll keep replaying what went wrong or how I wish it had been different. But when I look to God, like Psalm 34 calls me to, it reminds me that the goal isn’t to defend my emotions or demand my own way—it’s to reflect Him. It’s to respond with grace, trust, and a heart that praises Him at all times (v.1).

It’s not about me being seen—it’s about seeing God. And when I truly see Him, everything else shifts into perspective.

So instead of staying inward, Psalm 34 invites us to look upward—to see God’s faithfulness, His presence, His goodness. When our eyes are on Him, our hearts can rest, our minds can quiet, and our faces shine—not because we got what we wanted, but because we saw the One who is always enough.