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Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World That Loves to Be Noticed
How do we find contentment in God when we feel so hidden? Sara Hagerty unfolds the truths found in the biblical story of Mary of Bethany to discover the scandalous love of God and explore the spiritual richness of being hidden in him. Every heart longs to be seen and understood. Yet most of our lives is unwitnessed. We spend our days working, driving, parenting. We sometimes spend whole seasons feeling unnoticed and unappreciated. In Unseen , Sara Hagerty suggests that this is exactly what God intended. He is the only One who truly knows us. He is the only One who understands the value of the unseen in our lives. When this truth seeps into our souls, we realize that only when we hide ourselves in God can we give ourselves to others in true freedom--and know the joy of a deeper relationship with the God who sees us. Our culture applauds what we can produce, what we can show, what we can upload to social media. Only when we give all of ourselves to God--unedited, abandoned, apparently wasteful in its lack of productivity--can we live out who God created us to be. As Hagerty writes, "Maybe my seemingly unproductive, looking-up-at-Him life produces awe among the angels." Through an eloquent exploration of both personal and biblical story, Hagerty calls us to offer every unseen minute of our lives to God. God is in the secret places of our lives that no one else witnesses. But we've not been relegated to these places. We've been invited. We may be "wasting" ourselves in a hidden corner The cubicle on the fourth floor. The hospital bedside of an elderly parent. The laundry room. But these are the places God uses to meet us with a radical love. These are the places that produce the kind of unhinged love in us that gives everything at His feet, whether or not anyone else ever proclaims our name, whether or not anyone else ever sees. God's invitation is not just for a season or a day. It is the question of our "When no one else applauds you, when it makes no sense, when you see no results--will you waste your love on Me?"
240 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 2017
About the author
Sara Hagerty
7 books270 followersSara Hagerty is a lover of words, a student of God and His Word, a wife to the man she married first and fell deliriously in love with about ten years later (it’s true), and a mom of seven (gulp). She is a Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author and has written several books – her most recent being The Gift of Limitations, released via Zondervan in March of 2024.
Long before she was a writer, Sara was a reader. She spent childhood afternoons with her bony frame folded up in the corner swivel chair of her parents’ sunroom, lost in the pages of a story.
Other than in the pages of a book, her favorite place to write is on substack – it’s a quieter, more focused place for her to craft words about her reach for God and to invite readers into that strange nexus of raw honesty and wonder.
Though writing and reading are both her passions, she clocks most of her time with the people under her roof and those within her five-mile radius. She’s graduated several of her children, and yet she’s still teaching her little ones to write letters and tie shoes. Every day at 10 am, she’s tromping through the woods that line her home with those of her kids still 10 and under. Life surely hasn’t been what she expected, and she writes about finding Him amid the chaos, the pain, and the beauty of those surprises.
Connect with Sara on:
Substack (where she writes the most)
SaraHagerty.net
Facebook
Instagram
Long before she was a writer, Sara was a reader. She spent childhood afternoons with her bony frame folded up in the corner swivel chair of her parents’ sunroom, lost in the pages of a story.
Other than in the pages of a book, her favorite place to write is on substack – it’s a quieter, more focused place for her to craft words about her reach for God and to invite readers into that strange nexus of raw honesty and wonder.
Though writing and reading are both her passions, she clocks most of her time with the people under her roof and those within her five-mile radius. She’s graduated several of her children, and yet she’s still teaching her little ones to write letters and tie shoes. Every day at 10 am, she’s tromping through the woods that line her home with those of her kids still 10 and under. Life surely hasn’t been what she expected, and she writes about finding Him amid the chaos, the pain, and the beauty of those surprises.
Connect with Sara on:
Substack (where she writes the most)
SaraHagerty.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
August 20, 2017
I can't stop thinking about "Unseen" by Sara Hagerty. This is a phenonmal book! In a world where the focus is always centered on us, this book reminds us to find our focus and life on Him. It allows us to get back to find our way back to Him and that everything we do, He see's. A single moment in our life doesn't go unnoticed by our creator, which is pretty impressive to me. This book helps us a people to continue to realize that we don't long for a earthly home, but a heavenly home where we seek closeness and oneness with God, the way he created us for! Ultimately, I think this book is beautiful and reminds us of God's faithfulness, His promises and that He works everything together for His good! I want to thank Zondervan for providing me a complimentary copy. This book was amazing and I give it 5/5 stars. Unseen is another favorite book that I have read this summer!
January 25, 2020
This book is a gift and treasure. It inspired me to live a life that is deeper in relationship with God. It's practical, engaging, full of scripture, and yet a book that draws you to stop, think, digest, and process the ideas given. I will re-read this book to soak in the ideas and even to remember how Sara Hagerty shares her poetic words of how she adores God til she knows it's true in her life!
Sara Hagerty shares her personal stories and connects the story of Mary's extravagant love poured out vulnerably at Jesus feet, to a lifestyle of seeking Him in all seasons, but especially in the hidden aspects of life.
Authors often become kindred spirits or mentors to the reader, and Sara Hagerty, is that for me. I adored her first book, Every Bitter Thing is Sweet when I discovered it several years ago, I love how she ends each chapter with scriptures for further review. And I'm half way through writing out the scriptures from Unseen in my journal, and processing small steps to see God more intimately and to fall in love more deeply with Him.
I can't wait for the Bible Study to be released that goes along side this book, and it will be free on the website www.sarahagerty.net/unseen. I'm going to need a whole series on my blog to share all the aspects of the book with the world, as it's a gem with so much richness, I'm inspired, encouraged, and learning how to have a fuller, hidden life with God, where I use the white space in my life to seek Him.
I'm blessed to be on the launch team for this book, inspired by the emphasis on praying for the book release, and the readers whose hands it will be placed in, that they would find God and fall more in love with Him this fall (or in the future). I certainly have, and I've preordered several copies as gifts for several friends who will find inspiration.
I'll end with a list of a few things I believe are possible for the readers of this book:
*re-frame your life in God and before others by asking questions like: What does God think of this? and What does God think of me?
*see a fresh revelation of the story of Mary at Bethany sitting at Jesus feet.
*create a wonder hour to look at God more purposefully.
*find your own rhythm to adore and pray more intimately with God (and it's done without guilt!)
*love the Word of God more.
*look at Who God is.
*recognize how to practice God's love.
*lean in to Him.
*recognize you are seen by God alone (Psalm 139- woven together intimately).
*develop deeper intimacy with God.
*find that you can embrace living a life hidden before God, out of the limelight, but ever present to Him.
Sara Hagerty shares her personal stories and connects the story of Mary's extravagant love poured out vulnerably at Jesus feet, to a lifestyle of seeking Him in all seasons, but especially in the hidden aspects of life.
Authors often become kindred spirits or mentors to the reader, and Sara Hagerty, is that for me. I adored her first book, Every Bitter Thing is Sweet when I discovered it several years ago, I love how she ends each chapter with scriptures for further review. And I'm half way through writing out the scriptures from Unseen in my journal, and processing small steps to see God more intimately and to fall in love more deeply with Him.
I can't wait for the Bible Study to be released that goes along side this book, and it will be free on the website www.sarahagerty.net/unseen. I'm going to need a whole series on my blog to share all the aspects of the book with the world, as it's a gem with so much richness, I'm inspired, encouraged, and learning how to have a fuller, hidden life with God, where I use the white space in my life to seek Him.
I'm blessed to be on the launch team for this book, inspired by the emphasis on praying for the book release, and the readers whose hands it will be placed in, that they would find God and fall more in love with Him this fall (or in the future). I certainly have, and I've preordered several copies as gifts for several friends who will find inspiration.
I'll end with a list of a few things I believe are possible for the readers of this book:
*re-frame your life in God and before others by asking questions like: What does God think of this? and What does God think of me?
*see a fresh revelation of the story of Mary at Bethany sitting at Jesus feet.
*create a wonder hour to look at God more purposefully.
*find your own rhythm to adore and pray more intimately with God (and it's done without guilt!)
*love the Word of God more.
*look at Who God is.
*recognize how to practice God's love.
*lean in to Him.
*recognize you are seen by God alone (Psalm 139- woven together intimately).
*develop deeper intimacy with God.
*find that you can embrace living a life hidden before God, out of the limelight, but ever present to Him.
February 12, 2018
We’re drawn to where we come alive, to where our passion takes flight. To where we are known. We want to be with those who know us and remind us of what we like about ourselves. Those who invite us to consider our lives as much bigger than what our eyes can see.
Only the Lord can truly be that one who knows us and loves us that way.
Only the Lord can truly be that one who knows us and loves us that way.
July 2, 2020
A wonderful exploration of a topic I didn't even realise I needed a book on. Bit of context - I was one of those people who felt like I was 'wasting' myself in my current admin job. This book helped me realise a life hidden in Christ is never wasted and even when the world doesn't see or appreciate us, He always, always sees us. And loves us. Teaching us to turn our eyes away from the world and onto Him.
Sara Hagerty's writing is lovely - very poetic. I really loved the way she ended each chapter with a list of Bible verses, encouraging the reader to dig deeper into God's word.
The book ends with an encouragement to 'waste' time with God. Which, of course, is the greatest possible use of our time. He's been teaching me that during the COVID lockdown and I can say the things I've been learning during time with Him are incredible.
My only niggle with this book is the structure feels a little rambling at times. It took me a while to realise the writer was drawing a lot from the story of Mary anointing Jesus with perfume. She also tended to tell a lot of her personal story - nothing wrong with that but I felt at times it distracted from the main themes of the book.
May not be for everyone but very relevant for those who need it.
Sara Hagerty's writing is lovely - very poetic. I really loved the way she ended each chapter with a list of Bible verses, encouraging the reader to dig deeper into God's word.
The book ends with an encouragement to 'waste' time with God. Which, of course, is the greatest possible use of our time. He's been teaching me that during the COVID lockdown and I can say the things I've been learning during time with Him are incredible.
My only niggle with this book is the structure feels a little rambling at times. It took me a while to realise the writer was drawing a lot from the story of Mary anointing Jesus with perfume. She also tended to tell a lot of her personal story - nothing wrong with that but I felt at times it distracted from the main themes of the book.
May not be for everyone but very relevant for those who need it.
November 1, 2022
I remember buying this book as a recommendation from my Bible study (Proverbs 31 Ministries..highly recommend). I didn't know exactly what the book was about even from the title. When I decided to do the BooktubeSpin (see Youtube search) and chose several nonfiction books, this came up as one of the two books for me to read in a few months' time. God knew just what I needed at the time I needed it, Amen? His timing is always perfect.
The author shows how God meets us best in those secret, unnoticed times; those times when we think "Oh I can't stop and pray right now." Guess what? Yes you can...you can talk to God any time, any place. He hears you and wants to be there for you to reach out to Him. Sara uses her own personal story and the Biblical story of Mary of Bethany...THAT Mary who used precious oils and her hair to wash Jesus' feet. It's the unseen moments that some would consider "wasted" time that might draw us closer to Him.
Some quotes that really spoke to me:
There were SO many quotes that God was using to speak to my heart.....I shed a few tears reading most of this book too. I highly encourage ANYONE to pick up this book and find Jesus or a new level of closeness with Him.
The author shows how God meets us best in those secret, unnoticed times; those times when we think "Oh I can't stop and pray right now." Guess what? Yes you can...you can talk to God any time, any place. He hears you and wants to be there for you to reach out to Him. Sara uses her own personal story and the Biblical story of Mary of Bethany...THAT Mary who used precious oils and her hair to wash Jesus' feet. It's the unseen moments that some would consider "wasted" time that might draw us closer to Him.
Some quotes that really spoke to me:
When we crave most the eyes of others--their opinions and accolades--we break our gaze with the only eyes that will ever truly see us. We forget the beauty of the Creator-eyes turned toward us, the ones that saw the inception of our lives and loved what He saw.
It seems easier to get a like online than it does to get quiet before God, to seek His face and listen for His whispers.
And yet vulnerability, to God, is beautiful. It incites Him. He moves IN and near when we are vulnerable. "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart." (Psalm 34:18)
We all have parts of ourselves that are broken. He invites us to expose those broken parts to Him.
Dozens of minutes every day are shot through with the wonder, pregnant with potential to draw our eyes up to God. Our flitting eyes, with just as many opportunities to behold things that won't nourish our souls, need to be trained to see them. They need to be trained to see the face of Jesus.
There were SO many quotes that God was using to speak to my heart.....I shed a few tears reading most of this book too. I highly encourage ANYONE to pick up this book and find Jesus or a new level of closeness with Him.
June 7, 2024
Book serendipity! When a you need a book at a certain time for just the right reason and season.
Thankful I always read the books at the right time I need them. I had been sitting on this for awhile and then finally wanted to read it. Such a blessing an encouragment.
In a world hwere it is valued and sought to be seen the most important thing is to be hidden and unseen. That's where God finds you and completes your story.
“The craving to be seen is universal: we were made to be known. But there is only one who can know us. He is the one who created us to live with moments and hours that no one else can understand”
💬 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
Thankful I always read the books at the right time I need them. I had been sitting on this for awhile and then finally wanted to read it. Such a blessing an encouragment.
In a world hwere it is valued and sought to be seen the most important thing is to be hidden and unseen. That's where God finds you and completes your story.
“The craving to be seen is universal: we were made to be known. But there is only one who can know us. He is the one who created us to live with moments and hours that no one else can understand”
💬 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
March 4, 2022
Eu me emocionei tanto com esse livro. Algo que me deixou marcada foi as palavras da autora de que Deus me vê em tudo que faço, seja dobrando roupas, limpando casa, fazendo coisas que para mim não tem importância, que as vezes posso até pensar que é um desperdício de tempo, que eu poderia estar fazendo grandes coisas para o reino de Deus ao invés dessas coisas pequenas que ninguém vê.
Ele me ama mesmo eu fazendo um almoço. Ele me ama, me vê. Ele vê os pequenos detalhes da minha vida. Ele quer ser meu amigo, e Ele já me conhece completamente. Ele me esconde para que eu possa crescer, criar raizes. Ele me ama…Ele me vê. Eu não preciso da aprovação e aplausos do mundo, porque o Criador do Mundo me vê. ❤️
Ele me ama mesmo eu fazendo um almoço. Ele me ama, me vê. Ele vê os pequenos detalhes da minha vida. Ele quer ser meu amigo, e Ele já me conhece completamente. Ele me esconde para que eu possa crescer, criar raizes. Ele me ama…Ele me vê. Eu não preciso da aprovação e aplausos do mundo, porque o Criador do Mundo me vê. ❤️
September 10, 2023
Sara is one of those authors that I will always read. I never get the sense that she is caught up in the Christian publishing vortex of just releasing a book to release a book.
Sara's first book, Every Bitter thing is Sweet, is one of the most special books I have read. I developed a sort of kinship with Sara because of the way she wrote about her experience with infertility.
In Unseen, Sara looks at the ways God reaches into seasons of feeling unnoticed or unappreciated, weak, or directionless, and reveals himself to us. How we grow deep roots in God as he hides us - roots that maybe only he sees. How we cultivate friendship with God in the mundane moments of our days. How time spent in private pouring your heart out to God and getting to know his heart is never wasted time.
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. - Psalm 17:8
"'What does God think about this moment? What do you think about me, God?' God can use your weakness to hide you, inviting you to know his thoughts of you instead. Offering you a private invitation to sink your roots in him and grow. Great kingdom impact comes... from all the accumulated moments we spend looking at God, bringing him glory in private, and letting him shape our insides... roots... the heart can grow at any time."
Sara's first book, Every Bitter thing is Sweet, is one of the most special books I have read. I developed a sort of kinship with Sara because of the way she wrote about her experience with infertility.
In Unseen, Sara looks at the ways God reaches into seasons of feeling unnoticed or unappreciated, weak, or directionless, and reveals himself to us. How we grow deep roots in God as he hides us - roots that maybe only he sees. How we cultivate friendship with God in the mundane moments of our days. How time spent in private pouring your heart out to God and getting to know his heart is never wasted time.
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. - Psalm 17:8
"'What does God think about this moment? What do you think about me, God?' God can use your weakness to hide you, inviting you to know his thoughts of you instead. Offering you a private invitation to sink your roots in him and grow. Great kingdom impact comes... from all the accumulated moments we spend looking at God, bringing him glory in private, and letting him shape our insides... roots... the heart can grow at any time."
July 25, 2023
“The craving to be seen is universal: we were made to be known. But there is only one who can know us. He is the one who created us to live with moments and hours that no one else can understand. Great kingdom impact comes not just from actions that make a dramatic and observable impact but from all the accumulated moments we spend looking at God, bringing Him glory in private, and letting Him shape our insides.”
February 19, 2024
Reread this one for the 3rd or 4th time and it's still as meaningful and relevant as ever.
October 19, 2023
Have you ever nonchalantly picked up a book, and then suddenly found yourself arrested, disarmed, and left quite defenseless? Yeah, that’s what happened to me. In chapter one. God got my attention.
The author writes much of the book from the perspective of a mother, specifically an adoptive mom. I am neither, but even so, the content resonated with me right here, right now. I highly recommend this title to anyone who feels they’re in a role that is trite, commonplace, non-essential, insignificant, or— “Unseen”.
The author writes much of the book from the perspective of a mother, specifically an adoptive mom. I am neither, but even so, the content resonated with me right here, right now. I highly recommend this title to anyone who feels they’re in a role that is trite, commonplace, non-essential, insignificant, or— “Unseen”.
August 23, 2017
I received this book as an advance reader copy and was so eager to dive in and get through it. Sara’s last book, “Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet” has left an impact on my that few other books have. My goal was to get through it as fast as I could, but as I dove into the first chapter, it was evident that wouldn’t be the case. This is not a book that I could devour and set aside. At the end of each chapter I was left challenged and with a heap of scripture that often leading me down a rabbit trail into the word of God.
In this book, Sara puts words to something that many, if not all of us are feeling, especially in the world where it is so easy to base our worth on likes and views and followers. What she is calling us to is a so much more, and most often times counterintuitive to our do and tell human nature and certainly to today’s culture. She is suggesting where we may come to resent the unnoticed and misunderstood areas of our lives are the exact places where we can hide ourselves in Christ, and only then can experience true freedom. It is an invitation to dive so much deeper than the surface, to look so much farther than what our eyes can see, to really begin to find our worth in the One who created us. It is a journey that I believe will be deeply personal to each person, yet a place where we all have common ground.
What I love perhaps most about her writing is that she is a true co traveler. So much of what and how she writes comes from the deep parts of her soul and are born out of the experiences of her life, which as many of can relate, hasn’t always works out just as we had planned. You can tell she writes words that she is living and it almost feels as if you are having a conversation over coffee. Her writing is poetic in many ways, yet still easy to consume, and it’s a gift to the reader. In many ways, I don’t feel my words review can do justice to the content of the book, so my urge is to grab yourself a copy and maybe even one for a friend or two. I certainly have and it will be one I give regularly. In a world where we have so many choices on how we spend our time, I assure you, this will not be wasted time!
In this book, Sara puts words to something that many, if not all of us are feeling, especially in the world where it is so easy to base our worth on likes and views and followers. What she is calling us to is a so much more, and most often times counterintuitive to our do and tell human nature and certainly to today’s culture. She is suggesting where we may come to resent the unnoticed and misunderstood areas of our lives are the exact places where we can hide ourselves in Christ, and only then can experience true freedom. It is an invitation to dive so much deeper than the surface, to look so much farther than what our eyes can see, to really begin to find our worth in the One who created us. It is a journey that I believe will be deeply personal to each person, yet a place where we all have common ground.
What I love perhaps most about her writing is that she is a true co traveler. So much of what and how she writes comes from the deep parts of her soul and are born out of the experiences of her life, which as many of can relate, hasn’t always works out just as we had planned. You can tell she writes words that she is living and it almost feels as if you are having a conversation over coffee. Her writing is poetic in many ways, yet still easy to consume, and it’s a gift to the reader. In many ways, I don’t feel my words review can do justice to the content of the book, so my urge is to grab yourself a copy and maybe even one for a friend or two. I certainly have and it will be one I give regularly. In a world where we have so many choices on how we spend our time, I assure you, this will not be wasted time!
October 20, 2017
Unfortunately, I could not finish this book. I made it about 75% through and it is very rare for me not to be able to finish a book that I start. This is probably the first time in years that I was not able to get through a book. Every chapter in this book felt the same to me.
This was not what I thought it would be about and I kept attempting to come back to it, but found it very irrelevant to my life. I could not relate to any of the examples that she gave. There were a few scattered nuggets of truth throughout, but the book was a very boring read overall.
I still gave this book 2 stars, because while it is not relevant for me it may be for someone else. You may like this book if you are a parent, especially a parent of adoptive children. It also has beautiful cover art.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This was not what I thought it would be about and I kept attempting to come back to it, but found it very irrelevant to my life. I could not relate to any of the examples that she gave. There were a few scattered nuggets of truth throughout, but the book was a very boring read overall.
I still gave this book 2 stars, because while it is not relevant for me it may be for someone else. You may like this book if you are a parent, especially a parent of adoptive children. It also has beautiful cover art.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
December 21, 2022
I loved the message of this book, finding Jesus in the
mundane and hidden moments, but I did not agree with the
theology of this book. The author made everything sound very whimsical and magical, and one line I will not forget, she was speaking of her daughter and said that she "was worth his (Jesus’) blood spilled". We as humans are not worth Jesus' precious blood! I understand what she was getting at though, how God redeemed her daughter. Not my favorite book, but a good message.
mundane and hidden moments, but I did not agree with the
theology of this book. The author made everything sound very whimsical and magical, and one line I will not forget, she was speaking of her daughter and said that she "was worth his (Jesus’) blood spilled". We as humans are not worth Jesus' precious blood! I understand what she was getting at though, how God redeemed her daughter. Not my favorite book, but a good message.
May 12, 2020
In a world where we celebrate social media “influencers” and becoming a YouTuber is now a career aspiration, this message of receiving God’s smiles and affections in the hidden places is greatly needed.
January 2, 2021
Enjoyed reading this book. Put a lot of things in perspective. Definitely looking forward to more books from Sara Hagherty
December 18, 2017
Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World That Loves to be Noticed by Sara Hagerty 5/5☆
Thank you to Zondervan and NetGalley for the free review copy of this novel. All opinions in this blog are my own.
I have had this book for a few months and pushed off reading it because life happens, specifically school. I decided to pick this book up last week, but first I did some research on the author. I found a free reading guide that goes with this book on her website. It was a fantastic extra to have and work through while reading this book.
This book came during the perfect season for me. Sometimes, I want to be noticed. I want attention. This book helped me discover new things about my faith. It's easy to get caught up in the desires of the flesh, and this book helped give me a smack in the face. I liked how this book focused on Mary featured in John 12 - she's the woman who anointed Jesus's feet with the perfume.
Through every chapter, the story of Mary was explained in depth by using examples from Hagerty's own life. I enjoyed how this book continually linked back to scripture. At the end of every chapter, there were verses to look up. I like how some of these verses were used in multiple chapters and how more verses were added into what had already been read. I found the repetition of these verses helped me memorize and tuck them away for when I need them.
If you've ever felt like God isn't seeing you in your day-to-day life, or if you feel like you need the world to see you to be important, please pick up this book. I can't wait to revisit the book and highlighted sections. It was definitely what my soul needed. Also, if you're struggling to find the perfect Christmas present for a woman in your life, I would highly suggest this book.
Thank you to Zondervan and NetGalley for the free review copy of this novel. All opinions in this blog are my own.
I have had this book for a few months and pushed off reading it because life happens, specifically school. I decided to pick this book up last week, but first I did some research on the author. I found a free reading guide that goes with this book on her website. It was a fantastic extra to have and work through while reading this book.
This book came during the perfect season for me. Sometimes, I want to be noticed. I want attention. This book helped me discover new things about my faith. It's easy to get caught up in the desires of the flesh, and this book helped give me a smack in the face. I liked how this book focused on Mary featured in John 12 - she's the woman who anointed Jesus's feet with the perfume.
Through every chapter, the story of Mary was explained in depth by using examples from Hagerty's own life. I enjoyed how this book continually linked back to scripture. At the end of every chapter, there were verses to look up. I like how some of these verses were used in multiple chapters and how more verses were added into what had already been read. I found the repetition of these verses helped me memorize and tuck them away for when I need them.
If you've ever felt like God isn't seeing you in your day-to-day life, or if you feel like you need the world to see you to be important, please pick up this book. I can't wait to revisit the book and highlighted sections. It was definitely what my soul needed. Also, if you're struggling to find the perfect Christmas present for a woman in your life, I would highly suggest this book.
August 29, 2017
Wow! This book is one that is going to stick with me for a long while! At least I hope it will. Sara's last book, Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet, was a book that changed me. I have read it many times. This book has done the same and I'm pretty sure I will be starting over again very soon. Finding God in the hidden parts of your day, enjoying Him when no one is looking, asking Him what He thinks of me. So much goodness. God will definitely use this book to do great things in women's lives. Can't recommend it enough!
April 18, 2018
This was a powerful book! So much truth in opening up my heart to listen only for God’s voice. Seek Him in the quiet, mundane moments. Sit at His feet when no one else understands and I feel hidden, like I’m not impacting anyone around me. The heart can always grow regardless of circumstances. God wants to KNOW ME, and God wants to BE KNOWN. I will be reading this one again! ❤️
April 17, 2023
While I think the overall message was good, I didn’t get too much out of it. Each chapter felt very much the same to me. I didn’t feel like it went very deep. Some points were good reminders… keeping God as our only audience, spending quality quiet time with Him, and knowing that there is no wasted time… God is there through the excitement and the quiet moments.
January 11, 2019
Really lovely and a book I’ll come back to
November 10, 2017
I just love her. I admire her intimacy with Jesus and her vulnerability. Both of her books have moved me to fall more in love with my savior.
February 11, 2023
God sees me when I make a decision to glorify Him. When I’m unseen, my roots go deeper into Him. Such a treasure of a book.
October 20, 2017
This book has a beautiful cover, matched with one of my favourite themes, the blessedness of being unseen. Sara Hagerty helps us develop a new way to approach being un-applauded, unnoticed and unrecognised. Instead of regarding it as falling short of our potential, she invites us to see that being hidden from sight is often the best place to be.
Hagerty starts off explaining how she was sucked into the trap of thinking the way society prompts us to. When a friend spotted her working in a gift shop, she felt embarrassed to be caught doing something with no scope for impact in her own opinion. Only when Hagerty stepped back to reconsider did she realise the hidden, personal growth she'd experienced in that place had been phenomenal. The quiet gift shop turned out to be the ideal hothouse to nurture her.
Our era reminds me of a garden in which every flower cranes forward for attention, notoriety and applause, and the fact that there are millions of them makes it seem crazy. Well, Hagerty reminds us that we feel this urge for light because God has made us with a desire to be seen and celebrated. We do like to hear our own names and enjoy the flush of satisfaction that follows a flash of attention. It reinforces that we matter in the grand scheme of things, so we needn't feel guilty. Trying to extinguish our desire for praise and recognition isn't the answer, because it isn't a bad thing. Where we err is most often in the direction we tend to look for praise and accolades.
Instead of craving the eyes, opinions and applause of other people, she suggests we simply remember to look to God instead, who knew us from the start, and His kind eye is always upon us. The switch of focus may be enough to relieve us instantly.
But to keep the garden analogy going, Hagerty's book makes it clear that we often tend the wrong plants. We carefully watch the growth of our reputations, success and achievements, and forget about nurturing a good heart - while this, in fact, is the only shoot that really matters. It's a great reminder that God doesn't look at things humans look at, and if we nurture loving hearts, well, that's all we really need to worry about.
Sara Hagerty offers frequent botanical analogies herself, urging us to shift our attention from our showy, leafy branches, where it's so easy to focus our attention, to our hidden roots instead. In other words, we could change the emphasis from our visible work for God to our secret, unseen life in Him. And she has a number of examples where this sort of thinking has played out in own life, with her husband and several adopted children.
Overall, the book left me with the feeling that while some of us may be born to God's showpiece, others are born to be His secrets, and both are equally significant.
Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for my review copy.
For more book chat and reviews, visit my blog, https://vincereview.blogspot.com.au/
Hagerty starts off explaining how she was sucked into the trap of thinking the way society prompts us to. When a friend spotted her working in a gift shop, she felt embarrassed to be caught doing something with no scope for impact in her own opinion. Only when Hagerty stepped back to reconsider did she realise the hidden, personal growth she'd experienced in that place had been phenomenal. The quiet gift shop turned out to be the ideal hothouse to nurture her.
Our era reminds me of a garden in which every flower cranes forward for attention, notoriety and applause, and the fact that there are millions of them makes it seem crazy. Well, Hagerty reminds us that we feel this urge for light because God has made us with a desire to be seen and celebrated. We do like to hear our own names and enjoy the flush of satisfaction that follows a flash of attention. It reinforces that we matter in the grand scheme of things, so we needn't feel guilty. Trying to extinguish our desire for praise and recognition isn't the answer, because it isn't a bad thing. Where we err is most often in the direction we tend to look for praise and accolades.
Instead of craving the eyes, opinions and applause of other people, she suggests we simply remember to look to God instead, who knew us from the start, and His kind eye is always upon us. The switch of focus may be enough to relieve us instantly.
But to keep the garden analogy going, Hagerty's book makes it clear that we often tend the wrong plants. We carefully watch the growth of our reputations, success and achievements, and forget about nurturing a good heart - while this, in fact, is the only shoot that really matters. It's a great reminder that God doesn't look at things humans look at, and if we nurture loving hearts, well, that's all we really need to worry about.
Sara Hagerty offers frequent botanical analogies herself, urging us to shift our attention from our showy, leafy branches, where it's so easy to focus our attention, to our hidden roots instead. In other words, we could change the emphasis from our visible work for God to our secret, unseen life in Him. And she has a number of examples where this sort of thinking has played out in own life, with her husband and several adopted children.
Overall, the book left me with the feeling that while some of us may be born to God's showpiece, others are born to be His secrets, and both are equally significant.
Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for my review copy.
For more book chat and reviews, visit my blog, https://vincereview.blogspot.com.au/
August 29, 2017
In a world that is full of selfies and people clamoring to be both heard and seen, it is hard to feel like one who is noticed, let alone actually seen. In Unseen by Sara Hagerty, she shares how we are seen by God even when it feels like we are not seen by anyone else.
Unseen is Hagerty's intimate look at how God sees us and our productivity when we feel like we aren't doing anything valuable. We may feel we are wasting away somewhere but those may be the times we are reading His Word and drawing closer to Him. God wants to be our friend and to be friends we need to spend close time together. Weaving stories of her life and stories from Scripture, Hagerty shares how God sees us, how we can communicate with Him throughout the day, and how to hear His Voice more loudly among the sea of voices around us. Each chapter also invites readers to dig deeper into God's Word and read verses related to the chapter in a section called, For Your Continued Pursuit. I honestly felt encouraged to study more on my own and to continue to grow closer to the God who made me. In Hagerty's words, "I invite you to use these passages as starting points for hiding in God, for wasting time adoring Him, and for making His Word part of your everyday language." I especially liked this.
Unseen has touched me in some deep places. My weary soul has alternately sipped and gulped her words up. I could relate to so many of her feelings and stories even though my life is much different than hers. My word for this year is "Delight." Unseen reminded me that God delights in me and why I delight in Him. Hagerty refreshed my spirit that has been hidden in work and difficult challenges these past few years and I have soaked it all up. Hagerty's words to her daughter about Psalm 18:19 on pages 152-154 were also meant for me (and you) and I have read them and re-read them. Hagerty's gentle words, stories and sharing of Scripture felt like just the encouragement I needed but don't hear much right now. If you are looking to draw closer to God, be seen by Him and to hear His voice, I encourage you to read Unseen. Hagerty points us to Him throughout the book and helps the reader hunger for that Unseen time alone with God.
I received Unseen from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for this book.
Unseen is Hagerty's intimate look at how God sees us and our productivity when we feel like we aren't doing anything valuable. We may feel we are wasting away somewhere but those may be the times we are reading His Word and drawing closer to Him. God wants to be our friend and to be friends we need to spend close time together. Weaving stories of her life and stories from Scripture, Hagerty shares how God sees us, how we can communicate with Him throughout the day, and how to hear His Voice more loudly among the sea of voices around us. Each chapter also invites readers to dig deeper into God's Word and read verses related to the chapter in a section called, For Your Continued Pursuit. I honestly felt encouraged to study more on my own and to continue to grow closer to the God who made me. In Hagerty's words, "I invite you to use these passages as starting points for hiding in God, for wasting time adoring Him, and for making His Word part of your everyday language." I especially liked this.
Unseen has touched me in some deep places. My weary soul has alternately sipped and gulped her words up. I could relate to so many of her feelings and stories even though my life is much different than hers. My word for this year is "Delight." Unseen reminded me that God delights in me and why I delight in Him. Hagerty refreshed my spirit that has been hidden in work and difficult challenges these past few years and I have soaked it all up. Hagerty's words to her daughter about Psalm 18:19 on pages 152-154 were also meant for me (and you) and I have read them and re-read them. Hagerty's gentle words, stories and sharing of Scripture felt like just the encouragement I needed but don't hear much right now. If you are looking to draw closer to God, be seen by Him and to hear His voice, I encourage you to read Unseen. Hagerty points us to Him throughout the book and helps the reader hunger for that Unseen time alone with God.
I received Unseen from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for this book.
February 28, 2018
Really good! Definitely showed me a different lens on my relationship with God - more loving, more communion. I needed to hear this. I struggled a little that the examples and stories were so narrow (infertility, adoption, stay at home mom). I get that we write what we know, but it wasn't quite a memoir yet it didn't seem to make much of an effort to include others. Because of that, I would have a hard time recommending this to a broad group of people, which is unfortunate since the message is widely applicable.
July 10, 2021
His eyes on me and into my life are the source from which I draw everything else. Whether I am folding laundry or speaking from a platform, my exchanges with God are always about His reach for me and my reach for Him in return, again and again. The rest of life is the overflow.
This is friendship with God.
He sees me when no one is looking, and I search for him in response.
Perhaps God initiates friendship with a desire that we might befriend Him, eagerly, in return.
Sara Hagerty's voice and topic in this book have convinced me that she is a soul sister that I've simply never met.
A poured-out life of love for Jesus that counts worldly gain as loss displays how precious he really is. It preaches to a bewildered, disdainful world that Christ is gain and the real waste is gaining the worlds perfume while losing ones soul.
For me, this book has been a long, cold drink from a mountain spring. I will be reading it again. Perhaps next month....
God's currency is communion - a relationship that grows, nearer still. A relationship that is cultivated when no one else is looking. A relationship accessed not just when we feel we need His help but at all the odd times that punctuate our agenda-driven days. A depth of relationship that feeds the recipient in the way that productivity and accomplishment just cannot.
The format is a verse-by-verse reflection on the story of Mary pouring out nard on Jesus' feet as an act of worship, in the presence of many who disdained her action, and Jesus' response of honoring her and her act of worship (John 12:1-7). It is an utterly applicable story, worth slowing down for and noticing.
If we can find a place to pause from the swirl [of hardship in relationships] the answer becomes clear: the ones who oppose us when we need championing the most are also the ones who send us into the hidden conversations with God, conversations that change us. God champions us like no human can, but we don't often see that unless we have nowhere to look but Him... When we learn to relish what happens in the hidden place, we lean into what He wants to offer us in mistreatment.
We all face routine human misunderstandings and relational challenges, the scuffles that happen as our lives brush up against another. Your best gift today may be the one who misunderstands you or even opposes you Your adversary may actually be your advocate, the one moving you closer to God.
Mary's anointing is the perfect example of what Hagerty is describing. This is what Jesus calls us to: to draw near to him, to worship him, no matter the context or audience.
True growth in God requires that our perspective of Him grow with us. Progressively, prayer becomes less about relating to Him as we're certain He must be and more about seeing His bigness in light of how small and limited we are.
The author and her husband have adopted a number of older children, and the challenge of broking visibly broken children has pushed her into God's presence over and over again. Some of the parenting vignettes she shares are utterly moving to me, great examples of how to point your child to Christ in the midst of their suffering and weakness.
Trying to think quickly, I pulled out a notebook and began sketching. I drew an outline of her head, leaving the space within empty, void of the voice of God just as she described it and just as she felt it, though I knew her mind was full of other voices.
"Tell me exactly what thoughts have gone through your mind this afternoon " I said. "Let's take a closer look at what's inside here."
After some coaxing, we made a list. On it were statements like "I'm a bad person" and "I'm not a good sister" and "I keep messing up." For every thought she mentioned, I made a hash mark across the head of this rough sketch. When we were finished, there was no white space left. No room in her mind for anything but her own accusing thoughts.
"Now where's the room to hear God" I asked, holding up the notebook. She smiled, coyly.
She is just beginning to learn what I still need to practice to stay alive in God: every single thought matters. The thoughts that don't bow to God will give permission to another god.
The accusations in my head and yours aren't just personal report cards. They are arrows from an enemy who is hounding our lives and our pursuit of God...
When we let shameful lies speak louder than vulnerable expressions of our true selves, we are missing a meeting with God. When we hear Satan's lies and respond with an acceptance letter, God is still inviting us: Engage with Me in this place where you feel less-than or ashamed. I'll breathe My truth over your dark thoughts.
Hagerty's growing, expressive, winsome passion for Jesus, to know Him more deeply, to draw near to Him in the small invisible moments of life, to recognize His wise and kind hand in the hardest losses, echo the desires of my own heart and life.
We can't coach ourselves up to a better perspective, just a little bit higher until we reach something holy (though we try).
We need a new way.
We need a new way to endure pain, both acute and mundane, to face the daily deaths we're offered in broken ankles and broken dishwashers and broken relationships when we wish we could just walk away.
I found myself so very moved by her thoughts, Scriptures that she shared, and quotes from good books.
In prayer we intend to leave the world of anxieties and enter a world of wonder. We decide to leave an ego-centered world and enter a God-centered world. We will to leave a world of problems and enter a world of mystery. But it is not easy. We are used to anxieties, egos and problems; we are not used to wonder, God and mystery. ~ Eugene Peterson
I highly recommend this to anyone with a contemplative soul, a hunger for Jesus, and a life mission to live hidden in Christ every moment of every day.
We want [our children] to have a tender brush with the God who came to not just reset the bones of their brokenness but make their broken hearts sing. But for that to happen, we have to let them feel the hurt, to feel the longing for something more. If we insulate them instead or somehow teach them to avoid the ache and the thirst of their history, we're giving them permission to overlook the most enrapturing parts of their God.
So many little aches or obstinate quirks that we accept about ourselves are places in our lives that God can heal, into which He can breathe His perspective. But for Him to speak a healing word over old wounds, we have to acknowledge them.
This is friendship with God.
He sees me when no one is looking, and I search for him in response.
Perhaps God initiates friendship with a desire that we might befriend Him, eagerly, in return.
Sara Hagerty's voice and topic in this book have convinced me that she is a soul sister that I've simply never met.
A poured-out life of love for Jesus that counts worldly gain as loss displays how precious he really is. It preaches to a bewildered, disdainful world that Christ is gain and the real waste is gaining the worlds perfume while losing ones soul.
For me, this book has been a long, cold drink from a mountain spring. I will be reading it again. Perhaps next month....
God's currency is communion - a relationship that grows, nearer still. A relationship that is cultivated when no one else is looking. A relationship accessed not just when we feel we need His help but at all the odd times that punctuate our agenda-driven days. A depth of relationship that feeds the recipient in the way that productivity and accomplishment just cannot.
The format is a verse-by-verse reflection on the story of Mary pouring out nard on Jesus' feet as an act of worship, in the presence of many who disdained her action, and Jesus' response of honoring her and her act of worship (John 12:1-7). It is an utterly applicable story, worth slowing down for and noticing.
If we can find a place to pause from the swirl [of hardship in relationships] the answer becomes clear: the ones who oppose us when we need championing the most are also the ones who send us into the hidden conversations with God, conversations that change us. God champions us like no human can, but we don't often see that unless we have nowhere to look but Him... When we learn to relish what happens in the hidden place, we lean into what He wants to offer us in mistreatment.
We all face routine human misunderstandings and relational challenges, the scuffles that happen as our lives brush up against another. Your best gift today may be the one who misunderstands you or even opposes you Your adversary may actually be your advocate, the one moving you closer to God.
Mary's anointing is the perfect example of what Hagerty is describing. This is what Jesus calls us to: to draw near to him, to worship him, no matter the context or audience.
True growth in God requires that our perspective of Him grow with us. Progressively, prayer becomes less about relating to Him as we're certain He must be and more about seeing His bigness in light of how small and limited we are.
The author and her husband have adopted a number of older children, and the challenge of broking visibly broken children has pushed her into God's presence over and over again. Some of the parenting vignettes she shares are utterly moving to me, great examples of how to point your child to Christ in the midst of their suffering and weakness.
Trying to think quickly, I pulled out a notebook and began sketching. I drew an outline of her head, leaving the space within empty, void of the voice of God just as she described it and just as she felt it, though I knew her mind was full of other voices.
"Tell me exactly what thoughts have gone through your mind this afternoon " I said. "Let's take a closer look at what's inside here."
After some coaxing, we made a list. On it were statements like "I'm a bad person" and "I'm not a good sister" and "I keep messing up." For every thought she mentioned, I made a hash mark across the head of this rough sketch. When we were finished, there was no white space left. No room in her mind for anything but her own accusing thoughts.
"Now where's the room to hear God" I asked, holding up the notebook. She smiled, coyly.
She is just beginning to learn what I still need to practice to stay alive in God: every single thought matters. The thoughts that don't bow to God will give permission to another god.
The accusations in my head and yours aren't just personal report cards. They are arrows from an enemy who is hounding our lives and our pursuit of God...
When we let shameful lies speak louder than vulnerable expressions of our true selves, we are missing a meeting with God. When we hear Satan's lies and respond with an acceptance letter, God is still inviting us: Engage with Me in this place where you feel less-than or ashamed. I'll breathe My truth over your dark thoughts.
Hagerty's growing, expressive, winsome passion for Jesus, to know Him more deeply, to draw near to Him in the small invisible moments of life, to recognize His wise and kind hand in the hardest losses, echo the desires of my own heart and life.
We can't coach ourselves up to a better perspective, just a little bit higher until we reach something holy (though we try).
We need a new way.
We need a new way to endure pain, both acute and mundane, to face the daily deaths we're offered in broken ankles and broken dishwashers and broken relationships when we wish we could just walk away.
I found myself so very moved by her thoughts, Scriptures that she shared, and quotes from good books.
In prayer we intend to leave the world of anxieties and enter a world of wonder. We decide to leave an ego-centered world and enter a God-centered world. We will to leave a world of problems and enter a world of mystery. But it is not easy. We are used to anxieties, egos and problems; we are not used to wonder, God and mystery. ~ Eugene Peterson
I highly recommend this to anyone with a contemplative soul, a hunger for Jesus, and a life mission to live hidden in Christ every moment of every day.
We want [our children] to have a tender brush with the God who came to not just reset the bones of their brokenness but make their broken hearts sing. But for that to happen, we have to let them feel the hurt, to feel the longing for something more. If we insulate them instead or somehow teach them to avoid the ache and the thirst of their history, we're giving them permission to overlook the most enrapturing parts of their God.
So many little aches or obstinate quirks that we accept about ourselves are places in our lives that God can heal, into which He can breathe His perspective. But for Him to speak a healing word over old wounds, we have to acknowledge them.
July 19, 2020
I loved this book. Sara Hagerty writes a beautiful book about finding God when we are unseen, not in the spotlight, and how these periods of hiddenness are designed to draw us closer to Him, who always sees us. The book follows the story of Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus. Sara manages to write in a way that makes me want to know God more and to pursue Him more. I always value a Christian book more that makes me want to put down the book to spend more time in the Bible and in prayer, and Unseen does just that. Sara provides a list of verses at the end of each chapter for continued study, which I hope to spend more time pursuing. I can't recommend this book enough.
February 13, 2018
There was nothing wrong with this book, it just wasn't what I was expecting. This book follows the author's adoption of their children which is a beautiful thing, it just didn't dig deep for me.
December 21, 2018
I so admire Sara’s relationship with Jesus. Very humbling, encouraging, and beautiful.
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