The God Who Sees Us

“You are the God who sees me.”

These six words have become an integral part of my recent conversations with God.

As I’m walking through the pages of Genesis this month, God has been reminding me of some life-changing lessons He taught me through Bible Study Fellowship last year. These lessons exponentially grew my faith and understanding of who God is, and my relationship to Him. They have strengthened me and encouraged me.

The notion “the Old Testament is irrelevant to life today” couldn’t be farther from the truth. We can glean much from the truths of these Ancient Words.

Genesis is full of ancestors and patriarchs of our faith. Adam and Eve. Noah. Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. Joseph. And more.

But here in chapter sixteen appears an uncommon name. Hagar. Hagar is Sarai’s Egyptian servant girl. (Sarai is Abram’s wife. God changes their names later to Sarah and Abraham.) After a series of events of Sarai taking matters of God into her own hands, Hagar is pregnant with Abram’s child, who soon runs away.

This is where she encounters the angel of the Lord, who directs her to return and submit to Sarai, and foretells the life of her and her future son, Ishmael.

Hagar replied in faith.

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.” Genesis 16:13

Hagar. All alone by a well. Pregnant. Running away from her circumstances. Running away from her life. Running away from God.

Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you’re there now. Sure, your circumstances may be different, but the situation sounds all too familiar.

More times than I care to admit I’ve also been there, especially in the last ten months. Feeling alone as I watched helplessly my husband struggle to heal from getting hit by a car. Trying to make sense of circumstances God has allowed in our lives. Asking God why my son experienced his recent eye injury. Wanting to run from it all, just like Hagar.

But God saw Hagar, and met her by that well.

God has seen me, and continues to meet me where I am.

And God sees you. He’s meeting you–right where you are today.

God sees us and He meets us. He knows what you’re going through. He knows how it’s going to turn out. You won’t go through it alone. He will meet you in it.

Just like He did with Hagar. Just like He’s done for me.

I claim Who He is in my life often, and as I do, “I know You are the God who sees me,” has been on my lips countless times throughout my recent days.

Settling on that truth, settles my heart.

I pray it does the same for you.

From one child of the God who sees us to another, may you claim–and proclaim–this truth in your life today.
Julie