El Roi, The God Who Sees Me - Encouragement Café - June 13

El Roi, The God Who Sees Me
 By Luann Prater

“You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”  Genesis 16:13

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I wonder if God remembers that I’m here. Quite frankly, I have had these thoughts run through my mind that say, “Ok, I get it God, you’re busy. You don’t really have time for this little issue I’m dealing with or you think it is too trivial in the scheme of your universe. I know, I know, there are other people who have real problems so I must seem like a real wimp crying over my insignificant hardship. Never mind. I’ll deal with it.”

Is it just me? Or have you had similar moments in your life? Those times when your prayers seem to hit the ceiling and you just don’t feel like God even notices your existence?

Sarai (Abraham’s wife, Sarah) was distraught. She knew she was supposed to have a child for Abraham so God could fulfill his promise to Abraham, that he would be the father of a nation. But first things first, he had to be a FATHER of at least one! And she was just not getting the job done for him. So, like all good overachieving women, she thought it was time to help God out.

Let’s just hit the pause button right there. I’m guilty… how about you? I have soooo many times thought that God must not see what is going on here, so He must be waiting on me to get the ball rolling!

And that’s when I run ahead and push the wrong button, spin the wrong wheel, jump off the wrong cliff.

Sarai did just that, she shoved her husband in bed with her servant girl Hagar, so SHE could give him a baby. Boy, we do crazy things when we are out of mind waiting, don’t we?

So now she not only bypassed God’s divine plan, but she thrust poor Hagar into a future she hadn’t counted on. Suddenly she was pregnant and mistreated. And she did what I have done so many times in my life, she ran.

And this is where I absolutely LOVE this story! In the midst of running the universe, God sent an angel to this runaway to say, “Hey girl, where are you going?” Her answer was so much like mine, “I don’t know, but anywhere has got to be better than back there!”

Then the angel of the Lord reassured her that God had not taken his eye off of her for a second. He knew what had happened. He knew how she was mistreated. He saw her.

So Hagar gave God this name, El Roi, the God who sees me. He saw her struggle and sent an angel.

Sarai’s decision to “help God out” not only complicated this girl’s life, but rippled down through the ages.

God is tapping on my heart right now saying, “Do you trust Me, Luann? Really? Do you know that I see the things, the circumstances, the battles that face you? I’ve sent My angels to minister to you. Trust Me. You have not escaped My vision… and by the way, No, I don’t need your help. Love you always, Your Father.”

Hey, He just whispered something else. He wants me to tell you, He sees You too.

Can you hear Him?  Can you trust that He truly does see YOU?!

Take some time today to sit in His presence.  Ask Him to open your eyes and your heart to see Him.  Give Him the freedom to show that He does indeed see you.  And when doubt begins to creep in speak the words of Hagar found in Genesis 16:13, and allow that truth to flood your spirit with His indescribable peace.

Lord, how foolish we are to run ahead of You and try to ‘help’ You with Your plan. Today, remind us to wait on You. To trust You. To believe You. To know that You do see us. Thank You for Your patience and love. Teach us to give that same patience and love to others, in Jesus’ name amen.

© 2019 by Luann Prater.  All rights reserved.

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