Do you ever feel abandoned, like no one knows what you are going through? Like God is not really paying attention? Do you ever just want to cry out to God, “Hey, are you listening to me? Do you see what I’m going through here?”
GOD SEES.
Jacob worked seven years to marry Rebecca and was tricked into marrying Leah. Laban gave him Rebecca a week later, but made him work another seven years. Then Jacob worked six more years tending Laban’s flocks. “For 20 years I have worked in your household… and you have changed my wages 10 times!” Genesis 31:41. But God saw Jacob’s suffering:
“I HAVE SEEN all that Laban has been doing to you. I am the God of Bethel… get up, leave this land, and return to your native land” Genesis 31:12-13.
What did God say? “I HAVE SEEN.” God sees it all. He SEES your hurts, suffering, illnesses. He SEES what people say and your hurt feelings. He SEES your problems and challenges. He SEES your unfulfilled dreams. He SEES your unanswered questions. You do not suffer alone—and you will not suffer forever.
Hagar gained status when she became pregnant by Abraham. But then Sarah drove her into the desert alone, an unwed pregnant woman with no plan, no future, and certainly no status. But God showed up, talked to her about her problems, and sent her back to Abraham. And Hagar, probably a pagan until then, coined one of the Bible’s names for God, El Roi:
“So she called the Lord who spoke to her, ‘THE GOD WHO SEES,’ … and she named the spring ‘a Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.’” Genesis 16:13-14.
Whatever you are going through—God sees you!
God, thank you that you are El Roi, the God Who Sees! Remind us that you are with us and you see all our problems and all our needs. Thank you that you never leave us alone, but you are with us. You SEE us. You SEE me. Thank you.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 