So I have gone back and forth over which verse to choose for 2013. But I finally landed on Genesis 16:13 which says, "She (Hagar) 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.”
If you aren't familiar with the story of Sarah and Hagar, then read the devotional below courtesy of thehighcalling.org.
A little background: God promises Abram an heir; but as years tick by, no heir appears. Abram's wife Sarai takes matters into her own hands by offering her maidservant Hagar to him. She conceives, only to find Sarai horribly jealous. The Scripture says, "So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence" (Genesis 16:6).
Hagar embodies her name, which means flight. She flees.
In the wilderness, hopeless, Hagar, encounters the angel of the Lord. He encourages her, gives her direction. At the end of her conversation, she gives God a name—El Roi, the God Who Sees. Hagar is the only person in Scripture to name God.
It's this characteristic of God—His all-seeing ways—that we who work and play and parent must understand and believe.
- When we struggle to maintain a healthy work schedule despite numerous pressures, God sees.
- When we attempt to potty-train our three-year-old for the umpteenth time, having given up on M & Ms, begging, and tears, God sees.
- When we feel like Hagar, tempted to flee our circumstances, God sees.
- When we do the right thing, though everyone else rails against us, God sees.
- When our spouse injures us, yet we love and forgive, God sees.
- He sees every workplace, every family. "For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens" (Job 28:24).
- He sees everyone's actions—even those who wrong us. "For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps" (Job 34:21).
- He sees every person's heart and even understands why we live the way we do. "The Lord looks from heaven; he sees all the sons of men; from His dwelling place He look out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works" (Psalm 33: 13-15).
- He sees what we've hidden and is especially fond of rewarding what we've done for Him secretly. "Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:4).
- He searches for us, giving us strength when we surrender every aspect of our lives to Him (family, job, friendships, recreation). "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His" (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Wow! What a great reminder!!!
Don't you need to be reminded every single day that God sees YOU? Do you ever feel lonely, exhausted, unappreciated, overlooked? Do you ever feel like your monotonous life isn't having eternal significance? Do you ever feel sad, anxious, or guilty? Of course you do. We all do. But the truth is, GOD SEES US! He sees everything we do...every diaper changed, every minute up in the middle of the night with a baby, every snack fixed, every work day worked, every countertop wiped, every bath given, every shirt ironed, every trip to Walmart, etc...
Nothing is overlooked.
That's why we can do all things unto the Lord. Change those diapers unto the Lord. Go to Walmart unto the Lord. Fix those snacks unto the Lord. Bath those babies unto the Lord.
Knowing this year ahead holds lots of work and lots of busyness for me, a mother of three kiddos under four years old, I thought this verse would be a great one to cling to. God sees me. God loves me. God is with me. Going to cling to his PEACE and his PRESENCE. Excited for the year ahead!!!
Happy Happy New Year, dear friends! May this year be your best one yet!
I loved this post! So encouraging to me, and such a great reminder in the things I find so mundane (and I'm not even changing diapers anymore!) Love you! Thanks for encouraging me!
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