Near the end of the dramatic account of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, Hagar finds herself cast off, alone, and wandering in the wilderness. But then… “The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness…(Genesis 16:7).” “So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are a God of seeing,’ for she said, ‘Truly I have seen him who looks after me’” (Genesis 16:13). What I find most striking is, when Hagar found herself in the wilderness - alone, afraid, and vulnerable - God pursued her. In this painful and fear-filled place, Hagar learned that God saw her personally. Most likely feeling cast off, alone, and unloved, God showed her that he saw and loved her intimately and personally.
God is creator, ruler, and sustainer of the universe, but is also a God who sees and knows us intimately. And like Hagar, he is a God who wants us to see him as our God who looks after us.
Friend, he sees you in your loneliness. He sees you when you feel rejected, unloved, and unseen. He sees you when you’re facing the fears and unknowns of your own wilderness journey.
God came near to Hagar, but he has come even nearer to you and I through Jesus Christ - providing a way for him to dwell with us through the Holy Spirit. Christian, you may feel alone - but you have the very presence of Christ with you. You may feel unseen, but Christ sees and knows you better than you know yourself. You may feel afraid of the future, but you have a Savior who is leading and carrying you every step of the way. He sees you, he knows you, and he loves you. And one day, we will see him face to face. #hopewhenithurts #Godwhosees
Sometimes it’s hard to see God’s grace holding you up in the moment. There have been many days when I have pleaded with the Lord for his presence and a sense of his strength - but I couldn’t see or feel him in the moment. As hard as those days have been, they have taught me to cling to truth when I couldn’t see, or feel the truth in my circumstances.
Often, it’s not until we look back that we see and sit amazed at how Christ upheld us through the worst of times. Suddenly we realize that we never could’ve made it through each day apart from his grace, strength, provision, and faithfulness. Those glimpses are an encouragement to keep pressing on in perseverance and trust that he will meet us with the grace that we need for the days to follow as well.
Where do you need his grace and strength today?
Friends, though the weaknesses and trials we are face are difficult, sometimes almost unbearable, they are the means to knowing Christ’s strength and grace more deeply. Spend some time today looking back and reflecting on ways he’s shown his grace in the past, and be encouraged and strengthened that he will continue to be faithful. #hopewhenithurts #hopewhenithurtsbook
"Faith leads us to trust in what we can’t see. It says, 'I see no way out and I see no hope on this side of heaven, but I believe God is faithful and I will rest in what God has promised me, rather than what I can see and make sense of right now.' I’m realizing that, while God sometimes shows his power and glory by working a miracle in a seemingly hopeless situation, he often shows his power and glory by working a miracle in us instead. If he doesn’t work a miracle in your circumstances, trust that he is most certainly working a greater miracle within your heart." [Read more at link in bio]
“When God lessens our esteem of the world, he draws out our desires for the actual fulfillment of our heavenly comforts. Affliction reveals the glory of heaven. To the weary, it is rest; to the banished, home; to the scorned, glory; to the captive, liberty; to the warrior, conquest; to the conqueror, a crown of life; to the hungry, hidden manna; to the thirsty, a fountain of life, and rivers of pleasure; to the grieved, fullness of joy; and to the mourner it is pleasures forevermore. Heaven is precious and the soul desires to be with Christ, which is best of all.” - Thomas Case, Voices from the Past
#homebound #hopewhenithurts #eternity #comfort #glory #endurancewithhope
