For the One Who Feels Alone: Hope from the God Who Sees

Whether we realize it or not, we rub shoulders every day with people who are desperate, hurting, or lonely. Sometimes we notice, but many times we don’t. We might be too busy, preoccupied, or overwhelmed ourselves. And honestly, many days, “we” are those people…the desperate, the hurting, the lonely.

Just needing someone to notice.

To take time.

We may never truly know what those who surround us each day might really be facing. Deep inside. We can often become experts at masking the pain we carry, hiding our uncertainties, worries, and wounds.

Many we know have lost a loved one this year. Others have experienced the pain of divorce or broken relationships. Some have lost jobs. Many are facing huge debt. Others are hurting for grown children who seemed to have lost their way. Some are facing new diagnosis and health issues. Others are still waiting for answered prayers, feeling like God has somehow forgotten. And many may be surrounded by people, yet lonely inside, struggling through depression and darkness, battling worry, facing big fears, feeling lost in a sea of doubt, wondering if God even sees…or cares.

And while everyone seems to be heading off to summer vacation and sunny skies are up above, life might sometimes just seem like a struggle.

God gives this word of hope, for those who feel alone, are overwhelmed, or battling fear, and somehow seem lost in the midst of busy days.

“You are the God who sees me…” Gen. 16:13

A word from the story of one young girl who was running, scared.

Away from home and all she knew. Lonely, rejected, hurt, and out of hope. Hagar ran to the desert for she had nowhere else to go. And God in His goodness, sent an angel to her there. He had never lost sight of her, He had never stopped caring. Though the lies of her own heart told her otherwise. The angel of God spoke straight through the lies of defeat, he told her to go back, he spoke hope and blessing over her in all God still had in store.

And Hagar knew, maybe what we need to remember still today. Her words breathed out this great truth that secures our struggles, and anchors our hope, “You are the God who sees me.”

Let those words sink deep.

El Roi – He is the God who sees (notices, looks at intently, has regard for, observes, considers, watches over, gives attention to, gazes upon, who keeps on seeing). That’s our God. That’s the One who created us. That’s the One who loves so greatly and chases after us with good.

Don’t ever think for a minute He doesn’t see you, or care. You are not invisible to Him. Your situation is never too desperate for Him to work a miracle. He saw then, He sees now, every moment in the lives of His children, and He works, constantly works on our behalf, sometimes even sending an angel…

Don’t doubt for a minute that you’re all alone. He chased after Hagar in the desert, He knows where we are in our wilderness too.

He sees. He cares. He pursues us. He is with us.

May God fill every troubled, hurting heart, today and through these weeks, with His Presence of grace and peace.

Dear God,
Thank you that you see us right where we are. In the midst of our pain and struggle. In the middle of our desert land. Thank you that you have not forgotten us and never will. Forgive us for not trusting you, for doubting your goodness, or not believing you’re really there. We choose to set our eyes on you today. We choose joy and peace when the whispered lies come and say we should have no joy or peace.
Thank you that you care for us and your love over us is so great. We confess our need for you, fill us with your Spirit, refresh our hearts, renew our minds in Your Truths. We ask for your hope and comfort to continue to heal our hearts where they’ve been broken. Give us the courage and strength to face another day, knowing that with you behind us and before us, we have nothing to fear.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

5 Reminders You Are Never Alone:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Is. 41:10

“…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:20

“The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Ex. 33:14

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Josh. 1:9

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38-39

(This article also appeared here: http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/debbie-mcdaniel/for-the-one-who-feels-alone-hope-from-hagars-story.html)