The God Who Sees You and Me

Someone recently posted on my Facebook page:  “I have been alone all my life. Since I have been alone, the only tribe I have is Jesus.  He is there for me when no one else is.”

While the loneliness in this comment is piercing, there is also much truth in it.

We all know what it’s like to feel let down by others, even those closest to us. People do not always live up to our expectations or needs.  Whether they should or not is another conversation. The point is that the aching desire to be noticed, understood and known are at the core of our being, and we’ve all experienced deep disappointments in this arena.

In this season of recession with unemployment rates soaring above official figures, millions are experiencing not only the obvious deprivation of an income, but the crushing sense that they have been overlooked, ignored and forgotten.  In a professional sense, they feel as if they have ceased to exist!

However, if you’re a Christian, this entire scenario can be viewed from a very different perspective.  It may be frightening, disconcerting, and disruptive, but God allows trials into our lives to test where our trust really lies and to make us grow more dependent on Him.  When we are at the end of our resources,

“I lift my eyes to the hills.
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of Heaven and Earth.”
(Psalm 121: 1-2)

The world may forsake us– even forget us– but God’s watchful eye is ever upon us.

“The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.” (Psalm 33:18)

In the book of Genesis, Hagar, a maidservant to Sarah and future mother to Abraham’s son, has been so abused by her mistress that she escapes into the desert.  There, alone and rejected, with no one to care for her, Hagar has a surprise encounter with God.  She discovers that God not only knows who and where she is, but also her circumstances and what she must do about them. He comforts her, prophesies about her baby’s future and guides her back to her destiny.  This causes her to exclaim, “You are the God who sees me!” (Genesis 16:13)

A pastor reported last year that he was skin diving off the coast of New Zealand, when a rip tide separated him from his team, pulling him 90 miles out to sea.  An hour and a half passed before his friends even noticed he was missing.  By then, the chances of him ever being found were slim.  He paddled bravely to prevent hypothermia knowing full well he was in shark infested waters.  To keep from panicking, he recited to himself the 91st Psalm.

Hours later, the team finally spotted him. The seasoned captain said that the fierce ocean currents had been pulling him further and further out to sea and that his chances of ever being found were less than 10%. He called his rescue a miracle.

But, God knew where he was all the time.

Today, whatever wilderness you find yourself in, stand on the truth of Scriptures.  God knows you, sees your circumstances, and if you will reach out and invite Him into your situation, He will make “all things work for the good” (Romans 8:28), and turn your ashes into gold.

Recently, I journeyed through my own very trying wilderness period, but my years of walking with God have taught me to keep my eyes on Him, especially when times are tough.

He is a rewarder of our faith, and God allowed remarkable fruitfulness in other areas of my life while I navigated through difficult work challenges.  I grew in my faith, became a better wife, witnessed the Lord heal my husband of cancer, saw Him expand my ministry, and even help me with my writing.  And, oh yes, He opened a wonderful new door for me professionally.

Friends, He sees you, He knows you, and you can trust Him.

If you don’t yet know God personally, just ask him in the quietness of your heart to come and direct your paths.

To God be the glory.

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your  own understanding. 
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6