Scripture:
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” — Colossians 3:23-24
As women, many of us go above and beyond for others, often without being noticed, appreciated, or thanked. We pour our hearts into our work, our families, our friendships, and our ministries. And yet, there are times when instead of gratitude, we receive indifference, or worse—criticism. People might take advantage of our kindness, talk behind our backs, or fail to recognize the sacrifices we make. This can feel discouraging, disheartening, and even isolating. But take heart, for God sees everything you do, and He is never blind to the love and effort you give.
God Sees and Knows Your Heart
When we serve others and don’t receive any gratitude, it’s easy to feel unappreciated and wonder if our efforts even matter. In those moments, it’s important to remember that our ultimate service is to God, not to men. Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us that whatever we do, we are called to do it for the Lord. Even if no one else notices your sacrifices, God does. He sees every small act of kindness, every task completed out of love, and He treasures them.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:4, “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Even when your good works go unnoticed by those around you, God sees them, and He will reward your faithfulness. He doesn’t miss a single act of love or service, even if it is hidden from the eyes of others.
You Are Imitating Christ
When you are treated unfairly, spoken ill of behind your back, or taken for granted, remember that you are in good company. Jesus Himself was misunderstood, criticized, and taken for granted. Yet He continued to love, to serve, and to give of Himself completely, even when His love was not reciprocated. The Gospel of John reminds us that even though “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him” (John 1:11), Jesus never wavered in His mission of love and redemption.
When we experience the pain of being unappreciated, we are invited to share in the suffering of Christ. As St. Paul writes, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Your patience, love, and perseverance, even in the face of ungratefulness, mirror the heart of Jesus. In His eyes, your sacrifices are of eternal value.
Letting Go of Bitterness
When others take advantage of your kindness or speak poorly about you, it’s natural to feel hurt or even bitter. But God calls us to something higher: to forgive and to release those feelings to Him. In Ephesians 4:31-32, we are reminded: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Forgiveness doesn’t mean that the wrongs done to you are acceptable or that they don’t matter. It means you are trusting God to be your defender and healer. It’s an act of surrender, releasing your pain into God’s hands and trusting Him to bring justice in His time.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower,” offers us a beautiful example of how to respond to being misunderstood or taken for granted. She said, “When one loves, one does not calculate.” Thérèse gave herself wholly to God, serving others without seeking recognition or reward. She knew that true love gives freely, without expecting anything in return.
Your Reward is In Heaven
The world may not recognize or appreciate the sacrifices you make, but your reward is not of this world. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:11-12: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” Your faithfulness is building a treasure in heaven that far outweighs any recognition you could receive on earth.
In the meantime, trust that God is using your sacrifices and your willingness to serve without reward as a witness to His love. Every time you choose to act out of love and not resentment, you are proclaiming the Gospel to those around you—even if they don’t realize it.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Holy Beautiful Life
Featured Image by maritamar75 from Pixabay
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