Words to Grow On

Archive Devotions

February 21, 2005

The God Who Sees

by:

Kristin E. See

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord."

Psalm 139:1-4, Do you sometimes feel overlooked or under-appreciated? Do you sometimes wonder if anyone notices you at all?

In the Old Testament, in the book of Genesis, Chapter 16, we read the story of Hagar, a servant to Sarah, Abraham's wife. Sarah is not able to conceive, so she gives Hagar to Abraham so that he can build a family through her. Once Hagar conceives, however, she began to despise Sarah, and Sarah mistreats Hagar so badly that she runs away.

Hagar stops to rest at a spring by the side of the road. She is pregnant (a single mother) and all alone. Or is she? At this point, an angel of the Lord appears to her and gives her words of comfort. Hagar then calls God, "El Roi" -'the God Who Sees.' She says, "I have now seen the One who sees me."

Maybe you are single, or a single mother. Maybe you're married, but you have no children, or married with children. Whatever your circumstance, perhaps today you find yourself tired from your journey, and you want to rest by the roadside spring for a bit. You may be in the same condition Hagar was, wondering if anybody sees you, if anybody cares.

Whatever your situation, you are not alone. God is still "the God Who Sees." He sees the sometimes too-lonely nights of those who live alone. He sees the sometimes too-quiet nights of women who have a spouse but no children to tuck into bed. He sees the sometimes too-noisy and hectic nights of women who do have children. He sees you, and He cares, just as He cared for Hagar. Just as He had compassion on her, he has compassion on you. He spoke words of comfort to her, and He will do the same for you.

In Psalm 139:1-4, we are reminded: "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord."

God is 'El Roi'-'the God Who Sees.' The miracle is that He does see us, just as we are . . . and still loves us! If you ever feel alone, or not appreciated, or overwhelmed by life's circumstances, remember the story of Hagar and the words of assurance in Psalm 139: He sees you, and He cares. Here is another assurance, from "Someone Cares," a song written by General John Gowans:

Do you sometimes feel that no one truly knows you,

And that no one understands or really cares?

Through his people, God himself is close besides you,

And through them he plans to answer all your prayers.

       Chorus:   

Someone cares, someone cares,

Someone knows your deepest need, your burden shares;

Someone cares, someone cares,

God himself will hear the whisper of your prayers.

                                           John Gowans

-Salvation Army Songbook, #238

Kristin is a Salvation Army Officer (minister) and is a missionary teaching children.