What do you think?
Rate this book
Overlooked: Finding Your Worth When You Feel All Alone
Maybe you didn’t read the word on the front cover. Maybe you felt it. You’re not alone. I feel it too.
While most of us don’t want to admit it, we crave attention. Our social media–obsessed society is proof that people everywhere want to be seen. But this self-promoting system leaves many women feeling overlooked. In Overlooked, Whitney Akin helps you discover how the human need for attention and approval is God’s intentional design and encourages you to live seen by the God who loves you.
Overlooked guides you into a deeper understanding of El Roi, the God Who Sees, through the stories of Hagar, Moses, Paul, and Jesus by uncovering the transformative power of living each day in the attention of a holy God. Overlooked offers practical ways to implement a lifestyle of living seen characterized by confidence, meekness, obedience, and a gospel perspective. You’ll learn how to use these characteristics to interact with humility and strength in the real, and digital, world around you.
When you feel forgotten and unseen, Overlooked will help you . . .
- Understand why you long to be seen.
- Get real about the ways social media is hard on your heart.
- Tap into the true source of the attention and approval you long for.
- Implement practical ways to trade feeling overlooked for a lifestyle of living seen.
You don’t have to live overlooked anymore.
While most of us don’t want to admit it, we crave attention. Our social media–obsessed society is proof that people everywhere want to be seen. But this self-promoting system leaves many women feeling overlooked. In Overlooked, Whitney Akin helps you discover how the human need for attention and approval is God’s intentional design and encourages you to live seen by the God who loves you.
Overlooked guides you into a deeper understanding of El Roi, the God Who Sees, through the stories of Hagar, Moses, Paul, and Jesus by uncovering the transformative power of living each day in the attention of a holy God. Overlooked offers practical ways to implement a lifestyle of living seen characterized by confidence, meekness, obedience, and a gospel perspective. You’ll learn how to use these characteristics to interact with humility and strength in the real, and digital, world around you.
When you feel forgotten and unseen, Overlooked will help you . . .
- Understand why you long to be seen.
- Get real about the ways social media is hard on your heart.
- Tap into the true source of the attention and approval you long for.
- Implement practical ways to trade feeling overlooked for a lifestyle of living seen.
You don’t have to live overlooked anymore.
- GenresSelf Help
192 pages, Paperback
Published November 4, 2023
9 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 10, 2023
Overlooked.
I am loved by the God who sees. I have read Chapter 2 twice, and before my time expires in accessing it freely on Netgalley, I will need to read it again.
I am where I am, as I am, in the plan of God. I do not direct my own steps, any more than Adam and Eve directed their own way. They made foolish decisions; and as a consequence had to leave the garden paradise that was their home. Their relationship with God was radically altered. BUT….
The Lord God provided for them in their present need, clothing them in their nakedness, and promising them provision for their greater need in the future. Indeed, the defeat of the serpent was foretold in the earliest chapters of the historical record.
Please know I love You, Father. Please know I welcome Your seeing eye upon me all my days. I thank You for such grace and mercy, for You are good, and do good to all.
Another reflection:
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
(Hebrews 4:14,16)
“We reconcile our need to be seen, and our fear of being seen, in Jesus.” (page 31 of Overlooked.)
Without the reality of the gospel of salvation, we will always be open to comparing ourselves with another- sometimes favourably, often unfavourably, depending on the wiring of our individual personalities. Sadly, it’s not only common in the world, but among God’s people, which prompts Paul to write to the Roman church, “not to think of himself (yourselves)more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
Jesus Christ has opened up the way for us to God his Father, and taught His disciples the Lord’s prayer, and has taught us what it really means to love God with all our heart in the first sermon he ever preached.
The author to the Hebrews encourages his persecuted brethren to “remember Jesus” in their affliction. Remember what? For one thing, that He was approved by God, and that through resurrection and ascension He has been reunited to the Father, there to be our faithful High Priest.
His intimate knowledge of each one of his children ensures that His prayers are appropriate and practical, and the help that we need in our weakness will be given. We will not be overlooked! We cannot be overlooked!.
However, in those times I feel overwhelmed, confused, lonely and afflicted, and am stabbed with the loneliness of regret and shame, I can remember Jesus.
“What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear,
O what a privilege to carry,
Everything to God in prayer..”
I can recognize the times of temptation to worry and be downcast as moments of spiritual warfare. I can pray. I will pray. I determine to pray, and to stand firm in the faith, knowing that painful times will come, when my identity as Your child will be under attack. Mercy and grace is at my disposal from the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
I am a child of God, beloved by the Father, redeemed by the Son, being molded by the Holy Spirit. I am the object of my Father’s love that knows no limits. I will see myself “through Your eyes”, Heavenly Father. Blessed be Your Name.
( I have posted this as a review. If a book prompts a reader to reflect earnestly on his own life, and draws him to pray and to worship, it is surely a book to strongly recommend.)
I am loved by the God who sees. I have read Chapter 2 twice, and before my time expires in accessing it freely on Netgalley, I will need to read it again.
I am where I am, as I am, in the plan of God. I do not direct my own steps, any more than Adam and Eve directed their own way. They made foolish decisions; and as a consequence had to leave the garden paradise that was their home. Their relationship with God was radically altered. BUT….
The Lord God provided for them in their present need, clothing them in their nakedness, and promising them provision for their greater need in the future. Indeed, the defeat of the serpent was foretold in the earliest chapters of the historical record.
Please know I love You, Father. Please know I welcome Your seeing eye upon me all my days. I thank You for such grace and mercy, for You are good, and do good to all.
Another reflection:
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
(Hebrews 4:14,16)
“We reconcile our need to be seen, and our fear of being seen, in Jesus.” (page 31 of Overlooked.)
Without the reality of the gospel of salvation, we will always be open to comparing ourselves with another- sometimes favourably, often unfavourably, depending on the wiring of our individual personalities. Sadly, it’s not only common in the world, but among God’s people, which prompts Paul to write to the Roman church, “not to think of himself (yourselves)more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
Jesus Christ has opened up the way for us to God his Father, and taught His disciples the Lord’s prayer, and has taught us what it really means to love God with all our heart in the first sermon he ever preached.
The author to the Hebrews encourages his persecuted brethren to “remember Jesus” in their affliction. Remember what? For one thing, that He was approved by God, and that through resurrection and ascension He has been reunited to the Father, there to be our faithful High Priest.
His intimate knowledge of each one of his children ensures that His prayers are appropriate and practical, and the help that we need in our weakness will be given. We will not be overlooked! We cannot be overlooked!.
However, in those times I feel overwhelmed, confused, lonely and afflicted, and am stabbed with the loneliness of regret and shame, I can remember Jesus.
“What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear,
O what a privilege to carry,
Everything to God in prayer..”
I can recognize the times of temptation to worry and be downcast as moments of spiritual warfare. I can pray. I will pray. I determine to pray, and to stand firm in the faith, knowing that painful times will come, when my identity as Your child will be under attack. Mercy and grace is at my disposal from the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
I am a child of God, beloved by the Father, redeemed by the Son, being molded by the Holy Spirit. I am the object of my Father’s love that knows no limits. I will see myself “through Your eyes”, Heavenly Father. Blessed be Your Name.
( I have posted this as a review. If a book prompts a reader to reflect earnestly on his own life, and draws him to pray and to worship, it is surely a book to strongly recommend.)
July 28, 2023
"Overlooked: Finding Your Worth When You Feel All Alone" by Whitney Akin is a compelling and insightful book that delves into the universal human need for attention and approval, exploring how this longing is intricately tied to God's intentional design. In a society driven by social media and self-promotion, many women feel overlooked and undervalued. This book seeks to address this deep-seated issue by guiding readers to understand and embrace the truth that they are seen and loved by God.
The book draws on the biblical concept of El Roi, the God Who Sees, using the stories of Hagar, Moses, Paul, and Jesus to illustrate the transformative power of living each day in the attention of a holy God. Whitney Akin presents a thought-provoking perspective on how embracing God's love and acceptance can help individuals find their worth and break free from the cycle of seeking validation from others.
"Overlooked" not only examines the challenges posed by social media and its impact on self-esteem but also provides practical strategies for living a life characterized by confidence, meekness, obedience, and a gospel perspective. It encourages readers to engage with the real and digital world around them in a way that reflects humility and strength.
Through this book, readers will gain a deeper understanding of their desire to be seen and appreciated, while discovering the true source of attention and approval they long for. Whitney Akin offers meaningful insights and actionable steps to help individuals trade the feeling of being overlooked for a lifestyle of living seen, known, and cherished by God.
The book's compassionate and relatable tone resonates with readers who have experienced feelings of being forgotten or unimportant. By tapping into the essence of God's love, "Overlooked" provides a pathway to a profound sense of worth and purpose.
In conclusion, "Overlooked: Finding Your Worth When You Feel All Alone" is a thought-provoking and empowering book that addresses a common struggle in today's society – the need for attention and approval. Through biblical wisdom and practical guidance, Whitney Akin leads readers to embrace their value in the eyes of God and find fulfillment beyond the pursuit of validation from others. This book will inspire and uplift those who seek to live confidently and authentically in the knowledge that they are truly seen and loved by a caring and attentive God.
The book draws on the biblical concept of El Roi, the God Who Sees, using the stories of Hagar, Moses, Paul, and Jesus to illustrate the transformative power of living each day in the attention of a holy God. Whitney Akin presents a thought-provoking perspective on how embracing God's love and acceptance can help individuals find their worth and break free from the cycle of seeking validation from others.
"Overlooked" not only examines the challenges posed by social media and its impact on self-esteem but also provides practical strategies for living a life characterized by confidence, meekness, obedience, and a gospel perspective. It encourages readers to engage with the real and digital world around them in a way that reflects humility and strength.
Through this book, readers will gain a deeper understanding of their desire to be seen and appreciated, while discovering the true source of attention and approval they long for. Whitney Akin offers meaningful insights and actionable steps to help individuals trade the feeling of being overlooked for a lifestyle of living seen, known, and cherished by God.
The book's compassionate and relatable tone resonates with readers who have experienced feelings of being forgotten or unimportant. By tapping into the essence of God's love, "Overlooked" provides a pathway to a profound sense of worth and purpose.
In conclusion, "Overlooked: Finding Your Worth When You Feel All Alone" is a thought-provoking and empowering book that addresses a common struggle in today's society – the need for attention and approval. Through biblical wisdom and practical guidance, Whitney Akin leads readers to embrace their value in the eyes of God and find fulfillment beyond the pursuit of validation from others. This book will inspire and uplift those who seek to live confidently and authentically in the knowledge that they are truly seen and loved by a caring and attentive God.
March 14, 2023
You are seen by God and you don’t need to work or fight for the attention of anyone else. Rather than living to be seen, walk in meekness and seek to serve, despite feelings of inadequacy. That is the general message of this lovely book. A message that I think is very timely in a day and age where social media and getting likes are so prevalent.
Thank you NetGalley and Leafwood Publishers for this Advance Reader Copy. All views expressed in this review are my own.
I very much enjoyed the author’s exegesis of the name “El Roi” (God who sees) and the different verses that are all about seeing. I also enjoyed going through the stories of different Biblical characters and noting the pattern in the way God saw and then led them.
Unfortunately for me, this book mostly addresses the more common issues of people who feel overlooked: feeling unqualified, lacking confidence, feeling like God doesn’t care about you or sees you, shyness, comparison, insecurities, etc. Things you can learn to walk through with God, stepping out more and more into what He has called you to do. It is all solid advice, but it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting from the book. It does not really address the issue of feeling overlooked due to isolating circumstances that are beyond your control, like debilitating illness; circumstances that halt opportunities for social interactions and serving altogether.
But despite that, some of the general ideas still apply to everyone: God sees you, look to Him to guide you, intimacy with Him is key.
The author was very open and honest about her own insecurities and experiences of feeling overlooked and the way God led her through it, which I think will be very helpful for those who struggle with similar issues to hers. If you are not shy or insecure, this book may feel a little like a sermon that just wasn’t for you but still made some solid points.
Thank you NetGalley and Leafwood Publishers for this Advance Reader Copy. All views expressed in this review are my own.
I very much enjoyed the author’s exegesis of the name “El Roi” (God who sees) and the different verses that are all about seeing. I also enjoyed going through the stories of different Biblical characters and noting the pattern in the way God saw and then led them.
Unfortunately for me, this book mostly addresses the more common issues of people who feel overlooked: feeling unqualified, lacking confidence, feeling like God doesn’t care about you or sees you, shyness, comparison, insecurities, etc. Things you can learn to walk through with God, stepping out more and more into what He has called you to do. It is all solid advice, but it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting from the book. It does not really address the issue of feeling overlooked due to isolating circumstances that are beyond your control, like debilitating illness; circumstances that halt opportunities for social interactions and serving altogether.
But despite that, some of the general ideas still apply to everyone: God sees you, look to Him to guide you, intimacy with Him is key.
The author was very open and honest about her own insecurities and experiences of feeling overlooked and the way God led her through it, which I think will be very helpful for those who struggle with similar issues to hers. If you are not shy or insecure, this book may feel a little like a sermon that just wasn’t for you but still made some solid points.
July 1, 2023
I read this awesome book in two days! God has blessed Whitney to explain familiar verses in a clear and relatable way. With her prose, she proves that she's struck a balance between being gentle and powerful! I love the messages of weakness being turned into resources, and the truth that we all have a heart worth sharing.
Below are some of my favorite quotes:
"And no, Jesus doesn’t always pull us out of our pit, and especially not when we want him to. But he doesn’t abandon us. He meets us in the darkness, cups our cheeks in his hands, stares into our sorrowful eyes, and gently lifts our face toward the light we couldn’t see before: God with us."
"Our acts of obedience to him aren’t check marks on a Good Enough Person list. They’re lines added to the love letter our lives are writing to the lover of our souls. Our obedience isn’t a lonely sacrifice to a distant God; it’s a mutual partnership with the God who operates in the impossible ratio of a million to one."
"Instead of working tirelessly to hide the parts we don’t want anyone else to see, instead of maintaining the identities we desperately want others to believe, we can give them to him, and in turn, he can write just one simple designation over our lives—servant of the Lord."
Below are some of my favorite quotes:
"And no, Jesus doesn’t always pull us out of our pit, and especially not when we want him to. But he doesn’t abandon us. He meets us in the darkness, cups our cheeks in his hands, stares into our sorrowful eyes, and gently lifts our face toward the light we couldn’t see before: God with us."
"Our acts of obedience to him aren’t check marks on a Good Enough Person list. They’re lines added to the love letter our lives are writing to the lover of our souls. Our obedience isn’t a lonely sacrifice to a distant God; it’s a mutual partnership with the God who operates in the impossible ratio of a million to one."
"Instead of working tirelessly to hide the parts we don’t want anyone else to see, instead of maintaining the identities we desperately want others to believe, we can give them to him, and in turn, he can write just one simple designation over our lives—servant of the Lord."
April 10, 2023
This book is for those who feel overlooked at some point. Did you feel invisible in school, passed over for a promotion, or too afraid to be seen by others? I learned in Whitney's book that our God is a God who sees us. Therefore, we can live a life seen by God and develop God's confidence. We are wired for attention, but when we seek it from the world, we often feel overlooked. In this book, Whiney helps us uncover how the human need for attention and approval is God's intentional design and encourages us to live, seen by the God who loves us. I love how she walked me through her stories of living life unseen and invisible and how painful it was. But God led her to a deeper understanding of who He is – El Roi, the God Who Sees. Whitney gives us practical ways to develop what she calls a lifestyle of living seen with confidence, meekness, obedience, and a gospel perspective. We all are affected by the pressure of living up to and on social media, and this book helps to protect our hearts when we feel forgotten and unseen.
June 26, 2023
I’m so grateful for how God has used Whitney to share this encouraging, uplifting message of our calling as Christians: living seen and remembering we are loved by the God who sees us. I related to many of the struggles she talked about, and I really appreciated her openness and vulnerability in sharing. Through her chapters on Hagar, Moses, Paul, and Jesus, I revisited familiar passages and learned more about how each of these people walked in meekness and confidence from God—and what meekness and confidence actually mean from a gospel perspective. Toward the end of the book, Whitney’s biblical look at social media and our desire for attention is much needed for today’s world. I highly recommend this book to anyone feeling the loneliness of being overlooked and longing for connection with God and with other people!
April 12, 2023
Overlooked. We all have times we feel that way, and there's nothing fun about it. The hope we cling to is that our God always sees, always hears, always loves us more than we can imagine. We are never overlooked or undervalued by Him, even when we're at our worst.
Whitney brings fresh perspectives on four well-known people in the Bible (Hagar, Moses, Paul and Jesus) and shares how we can apply lessons from their lives to our own as reminders that we are never unimportant or overlooked. Whitney’s stories are relatable without being too personal and her takeaways are solid without being preachy. So many people need to hear and learn this book’s message for themselves.
Whitney brings fresh perspectives on four well-known people in the Bible (Hagar, Moses, Paul and Jesus) and shares how we can apply lessons from their lives to our own as reminders that we are never unimportant or overlooked. Whitney’s stories are relatable without being too personal and her takeaways are solid without being preachy. So many people need to hear and learn this book’s message for themselves.
May 5, 2023
This book comes at a time when many people (myself included) need it most. We live in a world where we are subtly pressured to let the whole world into our lives (via social media, internet presence, etc.) and then let our worth be defined how many followers, likes, or hearts we accrue.
Whitney does a great job of reminding us of that Jesus sees us and loves us through and through. She also helps the reader gain a better understanding of Who God is and of how beautiful and sufficient it is to know Him and to be known by Him.
Whitney does a great job of reminding us of that Jesus sees us and loves us through and through. She also helps the reader gain a better understanding of Who God is and of how beautiful and sufficient it is to know Him and to be known by Him.
April 10, 2023
This is such amazing insight to the feelings I have felt all my life. Even as a “older” woman, Whitney speaks right to my soul. I know God sees me, and it’s a wonderful reminder, but I think to some extent we as humans struggle to be seen here in the physical state. Thank you for the well written and encouraging words!!
April 14, 2023
I cannot say enough good things about this book! I love the way Whitney writes. Her heard for Jesus and the reader come across so beautifully in this message. As someone who has often struggled to feel valued, seen, and known- this book spoke to all of those places. Her Biblical examples were perfectly paired with this beautiful message of love and hope the Father has for us!
May 8, 2023
This book was not what I expected. It was much better! The writing was rich and engaging, and the way the author approached the topic was superb. She presented comfort, wisdom, perspective, and gentle challenge. There is no fluff or trite advice here, like so many other books dish out. This book will strengthen your faith, and give you courage. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
April 16, 2023
This book will have a permanent spot on my bookshelf! I highly recommend it. Whitney understands firsthand what it is like to feel overlooked and unseen. Her book is a perfect blend of personal testimony and solid Biblical teaching that will open your eyes to see God’s love in a new way.
December 19, 2022
I was privileged to read an advance copy of this book as an endorser. It is wonderful and I cannot wait to see it in print soon!
April 22, 2024
After struggling to find words to describe feelings I’ve wrestled with for years, I found this book that opened my eyes to the realities of why many of us crave to be loved, understood and seen. This book was a literal answer to prayer. Whitney took the time to include psychology studies, and deep dive word studies giving me new insight to life struggles. Overlooked offers a perspective that is fresh and relevant to the current culture that is saturated in self promotion. This book includes biblical truths referenced throughout its pages as well as practical ways to walk confidently with Christ. Through vulnerable stories from Whitney’s own journey, biblical stories, and studies, I learned more about God being a God who sees and knows me. Anytime an author is able to inspire me to walk in a way that honors the truths of God, I can’t help but recommend it to everyone I know. This is one of those books! I have now read it three times and it’s covered in highlighter.
February 5, 2023
It's always nice to read a book that confirms that God sees us and is always there for us. I enjoyed Akin's story of Overlooked because of this. I am giving it three stars. The writing is good and the message is clear! I think my favorite takeaway is how she came up with the title! It summed up feelings I have had from time to time during my life.
Thanks a bunch to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks a bunch to NetGalley for the ARC.
January 17, 2025
I loved this book! Overlooked is a powerful read for those who aren't sure if and how God is calling them to step out. The author uses her own story as well as Biblical examples of those who have been overlooked, unseen and forgotten to do the work of the Lord. This book left me feeling encouraged and equipped. A great read!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews