Do You see me? part 2

As Hagar walked (Genesis 16), her desperation grew. She had no one to turn to. She was literally alone in a desert place. There was no food, and she was at the end of her rope, physically and emotionally exhausted.

Ever been there? You were doing pretty well, getting along, and then suddenly, the rug is pulled out from under you. Sometimes, it ISN’T our fault. Sometimes, if we’re honest enough to admit it, it is. But no matter how we got there, we find ourselves desperate and alone. We need help, but there is no one around to hear us. No one knows who we are or what we’re going through. No one is listening. No one sees us.

Or is there?

7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. 8 The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied.

9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” 10 Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”

Just when Hagar thinks she can’t go on, the Angel of the Lord (quite possibly Jesus, in His pre-incarnate form – a “theophany”) FINDS Hagar (verse 7). He knew exactly WHERE she was. He knew exactly WHO she was. And He knew her past situation, and her future (verse 8).

Hagar HUMBLY admitted who she was. She didn’t say that she was (soon to be) the mother of her master’s only son. She was Sarai’s servant.

And the Angel of the Lord gave her direction – and oh, how hard that can be, to return to your position, to do the job you were required to do, and to do your best without complaint, simply because, “that’s your job!” Whether it’s being the best son or daughter for your parents (even when your parent may not be the best parent!), to be the best employee – even when your boss may be a jerk; to be the best student, the best friend, the best spouse – even when they don’t deserve it. It’s not about them. It’s about YOU!

Our situations may not change. We may still be dealing with health issues, we may still have kids who don’t listen, a spouse who is disengaged, a boss who doesn’t care… but every situation in which we find ourselves is an opportunity for us to draw closer to Jesus. It’s a chance for us to humble ourselves and say, “Okay, God. I realize my situation isn’t changing – but CHANGE ME! Help me to be the person You created me to be. Let me honor You with my words, with my actions, with my reactions. Make me into the best me I can be!”

It’s not about them. It’s about you. It’s about me.

CONTINUED TOMORROW