A Contemplative Experience of Being Seen
On Stillness, Presence & Deep Rest
You are seen. Fully, completely, without illusion. God sees you — not the curated version you present to others, not the mask, not the performance. The real you. The hidden you. All of you. This contemplative experience invites you to rest in being fully known and fully loved.
Being seen can feel terrifying. We work hard to manage our image, to show only what we choose. But with God, management fails. The mask falls. And what remains is not rejection but love.
This meditation invites you into the experience of being seen and not turning away.
Why We Hide
From the garden, we have been hiding. Being fully seen threatens our carefully constructed selves.
- Fear that the real self is not acceptable
- Shame about parts we keep hidden
- Habit of presenting only what we choose
- Past experiences of rejection when vulnerable
- Belief that love depends on performance
- The exhausting work of image management
If you hide from God, you are doing what humans have always done. But the hiding prevents the encounter that would heal.
The Gaze of Love
God's seeing is not surveillance. It is not the cold eye of judgment searching for fault. It is the warm gaze of love that sees everything and loves anyway. "You hem me in, behind and before." The seeing is intimate, not invasive.
To be seen by Love is to be held. You can stop hiding. You can rest in being known.
A Meditation on Being Seen
This meditation invites you to be seen without hiding.
Lord, You see me. All of me. Not the mask I wear. Not the performance I give. Not the curated version I show the world. Me. The real me. The parts I hide. The thoughts I do not speak. The failures I cannot face. The self I am ashamed of. You see all of it. And still You love. Help me stop hiding. Help me rest in being seen. Your gaze is not condemnation but compassion. Your sight is not surveillance but love. Let me be held in Your seeing. Let me be known without turning away. I am seen. I am known. I am loved.
After the meditation, stay in the experience of being seen. Notice any impulse to hide and gently release it. Let yourself be witnessed.
Living As One Who Is Seen
When you accept being seen, life changes.
- Less energy spent on image management
- Greater freedom to be authentic
- Deeper capacity for intimacy with others
- Release of the exhaustion of hiding
- Trust that love does not depend on performance
- Rest in being known rather than striving to be acceptable
Being seen is not just a spiritual concept — it changes how you live. The hiding can stop. The rest can begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if being seen feels terrifying?
This is common. We have learned to equate being seen with being judged or rejected. Go slowly. Start by acknowledging that God sees, even if you cannot yet rest in it. Trust develops over time as you experience that being seen does not result in rejection.
Does God really see everything?
Yes. Scripture affirms that nothing is hidden from God — all is laid bare before the one to whom we must give account. This can feel threatening, but it is also liberating. You do not have to pretend. The performance can stop.
How can God see my worst parts and still love me?
This is the mystery of grace. God's love is not earned by hiding the unlovable parts. It is given to the whole self — including the parts you cannot face. The cross addresses the worst of us. Nothing you can reveal will make God love you less.
Can being seen by God help me be seen by others?
Often, yes. When you experience being fully seen and fully loved by God, you become more willing to be vulnerable with safe others. Divine acceptance makes human connection less threatening. Being seen by Love teaches you that being seen is survivable.
Related Reflections
- A Dreamweaving for Resting in God's Nearness — Divine presence.
- On Returning to Yourself — Coming home within.
- On Feeling Lost but Not Broken — Still whole, still seen.
- Browse All Reflections — Find more quiet spaces for the searching soul.