"The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” The angel of the Lord also said to her:
“You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”
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 16:7-13 Have you ever felt like Hagar, wanting to run from life's problems? Running and hiding can often seem easier than facing the problem head on. We must ask God for strength and wisdom as He equips us to overcome fear. God will give us further instruction as we lean our ear towards Him. Through obedience we find His blessing on our lives much like Hagar. She was obedient to the instruction of God and He blessed her. In return she called Him "The God Who Sees Me." Her circumstance did not get easier but she drew from the strength of knowing God sees her and gives her strength through every trial.
To the child in limbo, to the child fighting fear. To the child trying to hold it all together, to the child falling apart. To the child thriving, to the child in the waiting. To the child wanting more, to the child needing a break. To the child who feels alone, to the child with their hands full. To the child who feels broken, to the child who feels whole.
No matter where you are, you are a child of the King of Kings. He is El Roi - The God Who Sees Me.
Lean into His heart and let Him refresh your spirit. You were created for such a time as this. Wherever you are, remember you are in the middle of the story that El Roi is writing!