Have You Been Seen Lately?

 

By: Donna Bucher

I believe this is the most basic of all human needs. At its core, being "seen" is the essence of being loved.

We seek it in many different ways, we call it by various names, but at the end of the day, we desperately want to be "seen".

Not just the outer fluff, not the veneer we show the world, but the soul that lives within, in all of its brokenness, imperfections, fears, and failures, longs to be seen by someone not afraid to look.

 

Can you relate? Do you ever feel "invisible" to others? I know I have! But let me encourage you, there is someone who always sees you, not just a casual glance, but sees all of you.

He sees those parts of you hidden away because you think no one wants to see them.

He sees the broken parts, the discarded parts, and the parts that hurt all the time.

His name is "El Roi".

 

I met "El Roi" in Genesis 16 during my daily reading. It's the story of Abraham. Sarah, Abraham's wife was unable to bear children.

God promised them a son, but Sarah wearied of waiting, and according to the custom of the day, gave Abraham her handmaid, Hagar as a wife to have children with her.

Hagar became pregnant, but then Sarah resented her and treated her harshly. Hagar ran away and ended up in the desert. God spoke kindly to her there, telling her He would bless her, but she must go back to her mistress, Sarah.

Hagar called the name of the place "El Roi", which means "The God who sees", because God had seen her in her distress.

 

A well-known passage for me, read many times, but on this day, I felt God speaking to me, He saw me, too.

 

He saw my distress and heartache, but even more, He saw me.  Let me encourage you, Dear One, God sees you too, today.

 

You are not alone; unseen and unheard, He sees you, loves you, knows you, and promises to bless you. Even if others do not see you and your needs, El Roi sees all.

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."

Genesis 16:13

 

 

The God of the universe sees you.

 

Let the magnitude of this thought embrace you today. Then offer that same encouragement to someone else.

 

Think about how you treat others.

 

Are you wrapped up in your own needs, wants, plans, and agenda? Do you "see" others around you?

 

Do you view them as people worthy of being seen and heard, or interruptions and annoyances?

 

Let's take the gift of being seen and loved by El Roi and offer it to those we meet each day. There's nothing quite like knowing you are seen to inspire hope in the hardest of circumstances.

 

Find more encouragement and FREE Resources at Serenity in Suffering!

 

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