"She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me.' That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered." Genesis 16:13,14.
I don't know where you are this moment as you read these words. Maybe you stumbled across this place by accident. Even if that is the case, I want you to know that God sees and remembers you. Your prayers are heard by God most high (even if you don't know him quite well yet). He does not turn away those who call out to him (those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved). In Isaiah 42:3 he says that he will not break a bruised reed or as I translate it, "God doesn't kick us when we are down."
Instead, this is the God who says, "do not fear" and "grace and peace be yours in the name of Jesus Christ." Perhaps you are suffering. Maybe you are depressed and not sure that you can survive another day. Maybe you are unemployed--without money, low on food--wondering where your next meal will come from and if you will be able to pay your bills. Perhaps you are chronically or terminally ill. Maybe you lost a child or a spouse or are going through a divorce or are in a bad marriage or are suffocated by your singleness. Or maybe you're in college or just graduated and wondering what will become of your life. Maybe you feel as if you are drowning in your sins.You're lonely. Know that God sees you and remembers you.
I also think of Christians in Iran, Christians in Iraq, Christians in Saudi Arabia, Christians in North Korea, Christians in China --Christians in places where you fear for your life because of your devotion to Jesus. Or maybe you're in one of these places or a place like it and trying to find out who Jesus is and what it means to follow him. Perhaps I can assist you as you read my posts. But know this: God sees you and remembers you.
Abraham and Sarai got impatient with God. God had told them they'd have a child in old age. But sometime during what scholars believe was a 25 year waiting period, they lost faith. "Maybe God meant that someone else would bear my child" Sarai thought. "I know," she said, "I'll tell Abraham to sleep with Hagar and the child she bears will be our child of promise." She decided to play God and concocted a plan. The plan worked--kind of. Hagar became pregnant. But then Hagar began to despise Sarai and then Sarai mistreated Hagar.
Hagar ran away. But God ran after her. He had compassion on her in her distress. He told her to go back to Sarai and Abraham. And he told her that she'd have many descendents. She was moved by the love and compassion God showed her and was overcome by his goodness and love. She named him "The God Who Sees." And she went on to say that she'd seen the one who sees her.
God sees you in your distress and hopelessness. Throw yourself upon his mercy and grace. I often picture myself leaping into white robes...my way of throwing myself on God's mercy and grace...my way of banking on his goodness and love. In Jesus Christ, God has said "Immanuel" ... I am with you. Immanuel means "God with us." When Jesus came to earth as a baby (soon we will be celebrating Advent) the angels proclaimed that it was good news and great joy for all people.
Like the father in the story of the prodigal son, God says to you and me "Everything I have is yours." I pray that wherever you are that he would open your eyes to his presence and care and that he would open mine, too. I pray that you would see that everything he has is yours if you are his child.
Remember, God speaks to us through his words and in others ways. He speaks to us through his people and creation. Maybe this little post is his way of encouraging you, of reminding you that he sees you and remembers you. I will pray that you become aware of his eye beholding you and of his arm that is not too short to save.
I don't know where you are this moment as you read these words. Maybe you stumbled across this place by accident. Even if that is the case, I want you to know that God sees and remembers you. Your prayers are heard by God most high (even if you don't know him quite well yet). He does not turn away those who call out to him (those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved). In Isaiah 42:3 he says that he will not break a bruised reed or as I translate it, "God doesn't kick us when we are down."
Instead, this is the God who says, "do not fear" and "grace and peace be yours in the name of Jesus Christ." Perhaps you are suffering. Maybe you are depressed and not sure that you can survive another day. Maybe you are unemployed--without money, low on food--wondering where your next meal will come from and if you will be able to pay your bills. Perhaps you are chronically or terminally ill. Maybe you lost a child or a spouse or are going through a divorce or are in a bad marriage or are suffocated by your singleness. Or maybe you're in college or just graduated and wondering what will become of your life. Maybe you feel as if you are drowning in your sins.You're lonely. Know that God sees you and remembers you.
I also think of Christians in Iran, Christians in Iraq, Christians in Saudi Arabia, Christians in North Korea, Christians in China --Christians in places where you fear for your life because of your devotion to Jesus. Or maybe you're in one of these places or a place like it and trying to find out who Jesus is and what it means to follow him. Perhaps I can assist you as you read my posts. But know this: God sees you and remembers you.
Abraham and Sarai got impatient with God. God had told them they'd have a child in old age. But sometime during what scholars believe was a 25 year waiting period, they lost faith. "Maybe God meant that someone else would bear my child" Sarai thought. "I know," she said, "I'll tell Abraham to sleep with Hagar and the child she bears will be our child of promise." She decided to play God and concocted a plan. The plan worked--kind of. Hagar became pregnant. But then Hagar began to despise Sarai and then Sarai mistreated Hagar.
Hagar ran away. But God ran after her. He had compassion on her in her distress. He told her to go back to Sarai and Abraham. And he told her that she'd have many descendents. She was moved by the love and compassion God showed her and was overcome by his goodness and love. She named him "The God Who Sees." And she went on to say that she'd seen the one who sees her.
God sees you in your distress and hopelessness. Throw yourself upon his mercy and grace. I often picture myself leaping into white robes...my way of throwing myself on God's mercy and grace...my way of banking on his goodness and love. In Jesus Christ, God has said "Immanuel" ... I am with you. Immanuel means "God with us." When Jesus came to earth as a baby (soon we will be celebrating Advent) the angels proclaimed that it was good news and great joy for all people.
Like the father in the story of the prodigal son, God says to you and me "Everything I have is yours." I pray that wherever you are that he would open your eyes to his presence and care and that he would open mine, too. I pray that you would see that everything he has is yours if you are his child.
Remember, God speaks to us through his words and in others ways. He speaks to us through his people and creation. Maybe this little post is his way of encouraging you, of reminding you that he sees you and remembers you. I will pray that you become aware of his eye beholding you and of his arm that is not too short to save.
1 comment:
Yes! It is so easy to loose sight of He who sees us in our distress! Pray for me- I'm going through a very difficult time of spiritual warfare.
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