He sees me.
As tears filled my eyes on the way to counseling last Thursday, I captured this photo. I sent it to a friend and said, “He sees. He weeps. He knows.” I later sent the picture to her in an Instagram message with this verse: Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
This morning I was reading the OWNit365 One Story reading plan in Genesis 16 about Hagar, the slave of Sarai. Here’s a brief summary: Sarai had her husband sleep with Hagar so they could have a child. Once Hagar became pregnant she started to despise Sarai. Sarai started to mistreat Hagar and so Hagar left. The angel of the Lord finds her, and calls her by name, and asks her where she is going. She tells him she is running away. The angel of the Lord tells her to go back and submit. He told her she would have many descendants and to name her baby boy Ishmael (which means God Hears) because the Lord had heard of her misery.
He heard her. Maybe she cried out to Him. Maybe she just cried. Maybe she had prayed over and over for relief and for help. Maybe she screamed. However she expressed her misery, He heard it, and He saw her.
Then in verse 13 and I read her response:
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.”
He sees me.
He knows.
I matter.
Hagar, who was a slave. Hagar, who was pregnant by Abram – Sarai’s husband. Hagar, who was mistreated. Hagar, who ran away to escape.
The angel of the Lord pursued Hagar and found her. The angel of the Lord called her by her name.
He sees. He hears. He knows. He is always aware.
The name she gave her Lord that day is the God who sees me.
El Roi – The God Who Sees
I thought about that verse all day. Then, at dinner tonight, my son said, “We had an interesting discussion about Abraham today at school.” Part of the discussion was about Abraham having two wives, and then I chimed in and told them the part about El Roi – The God who sees! We can be sure God sees and that He is with us. I made sure to clarify that He sees everything – not just like Santa when you are naughty or nice…but when you are hurting, lonely or sad. He knows. He sees. We are never alone. El Roi – The God Who Sees. What a comfort!
Psalm 56:8 (MSG)
You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book.
I had not heard that name of God…El Roi….The Lord who sees….Yes, He does see us every moment…He sees, He hears, He loves…He heals…He provides….Beautiful post, beautiful words….bless you on your journey.
stopping over from Bonnies………….
Thank you for stopping by Renee! I enjoyed reading your blog and encouraging words! Blessings to you!!
Thanks so much for this comforting reminder that “He sees. He weeps. He knows.” What a blessing to have a friend to remind you. I love your picture. The stormy clouds with the sunbeams radiating through a break in them. It reminds me of how He can break up the darkness. Thank you for sharing!
Trudy, thank you for stopping by! The sunbeams were so pretty breaking through and yes a great reminder that he has overcome darkness! John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
What an amazing picture. I am saving it to my laptop.
Hey Karmen! It was amazing in person, but I was surprised the picture captured it well – I am so thankful it did! Hope you are doing well!!
Through the darkest memories I’ve had to process, the most difficult moments of my past, this God, the God who sees me, has drawn near and revealed himself. And what he shows me brings healing and freedom where I had only known bondage and brokenness. This is a wonderful revelation and your words share it so well offering hope to others. Blessings.