Two-minute read.
Hagar got a bad rap. Servant to Sarah, when her barren mistress ordered her to sleep with Abraham and give him an heir, Hagar did it. But then God blesses Sarah with a child in her old age, and she drives Hagar and her son Ishmael into the wilderness alone and defenseless. In that lonely desert place, the Angel of the Lord appeared, speaking directly to her, offering hope, and promising that He had a future for both her and Ishmael.
“El Roi,” Hagar cried out, giving the Lord the name which means “the God who sees me.” One of the most beautiful names for the Savior, not only did He see Hagar, but He also sees you and me. When we feel overlooked by others, God sees us. Hagar, a servant and foreigner who had no power in her culture, encountered the Lord in her lowest moment. When she cried out to the Creator, He saw her pain, heard her cries, and met her in the valley.
When I lost my job years ago, I relentlessly searched for work, sending out resumes, following up on leads, doing everything I could to find employment. During those five months, I struggled in ways no one seemed to notice. But then I started a Bible study on David by Beth Moore, and as I did the work and learned about Israel’s famous king, I felt God’s presence with me.
Each day, as I persevered, I found hope in scripture, trusting that the Lord had a plan for me and that He would provide. Two weeks before Christmas, I landed my dream job, scheduled to start right after the holidays with a trip to New York City. At that moment, I felt seen by the Lord, and I have always considered that job His Christmas gift to me. Perfect in every way, God heard my cries and answered my prayers.
Like Hagar in the wilderness, I discovered the Savior’s presence had never left me. Sometimes, God doesn’t give us immediate solutions, but the assurance that He sees us, knows us, and works for us towards an outcome we have yet to see. We serve El Roi, the God who sees you. Allow that truth to comfort your heart and help you persevere. Whatever stress you have today, the Lord’s already at work relieving it.
Journal Questions:
- What is weighing on you most today?
- Where do you feel unseen or unheard?
- What would change if you believed God truly sees you?
Stressbuster:
Take a 10-minute slow walk outside without your phone.
