Does God See Me?

Some days I feel invisible...do you?

“Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.”She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” Genesis 16:13 NLT

As I sat in the waiting room, voices continuing all around me, my lips trembled, and I struggled to keep my tears from falling. 

Everything felt out of control. I was grieving, but the world continued around me as if nothing had happened, while my entire universe fell apart.

Then, as I was called into the office, one of the staff members placed her hands on my shoulders, looked me directly in the eyes, and gently asked, “Are you okay?” 

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I released my tension, nodded, and fell into her hug. I wasn’t invisible; I had been seen. 

Have you ever felt invisible? Felt as if no one sees you, or cares?

Hagar was a slave who had been given to her master as a concubine. She became pregnant and taunted her barren mistress, but then was mistreated by her master’s wife. The cruelty was so bad that she ran away into the desert. (Genesis 16:6)

Grieving, scared, and alone in the wilderness, she felt she would probably die. She had given up hope.

And then God showed up. 

He spoke to her - by name. He saw her tears, felt her heartache, and listened to her cries. The angel told her, “The Lord heard her cry of distress.” (Genesis 16:11)

The creator of the universe cared enough for her personally to show up. To SEE her. In her distress, he comforted her, gave her hope, and a promise. 

Hagar recognized she experienced a divine encounter. She marvelled at the fact that she had seen God. She had a new name for the Lord - in Hebrew, El Roi, means “the God who sees me”. (Verse 13) 

God sees everything. God knew Hagar personally and was watching over her.

Are you grieving, distressed, and need someone to “see” you? To “hear” your cries? God does. 

He loves you and longs to comfort you. Just as the woman who embraced me as I cried, the Holy Spirit will envelop you in peace and comfort when you cry out to God. 

The Creator of the universe knows you, hears you, sees you, and He cares. El Roi - “the God Who Sees”, sees you. Yes, you. 

Reflection: 

God can reach us through the Holy Spirit in many ways. Sometimes it is a feeling of calm, peace, or assurance that you are not alone. Other times, God may bring someone into your path with a hug, a text, a call, or a visit, showing you care. Or you may read a portion of the bible and find comfort there. 

As you reflect on your day, how did God “see” you?