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Listen while you read: "Jesus Saves"1 (Lyrics) |
When I was younger, I felt invisible, like no one noticed or cared about me. My grandmother would come to visit and she would rave about how beautiful my younger sister was. She would look at me and say, "Well, you're still fat." I felt insignificant, that I didn't matter, and that my grandmother didn't care if I lived or died. I wanted to cry out, "I'm here. Please give me some attention. Can't you see me?" But it seems that she wouldn't have heard my voice. I felt like a passing shadow that is taken for granted, that has no worth or meaning.
In Genesis 16, we find Hagar struggling with such thoughts. Put yourself in her place. Imagine that you are 14 years old and a servant to a very important woman. She has no children, but she doesn't treat you as a child who needs attention and love. She ignores you. Then, one day, because she is barren, she convinces her husband to have a child with you. Afterwards, she treats you worse than ever, even though you did what she wanted you to do. So, what else is there to do but run away? No one cares anyway.
While she is in the wilderness, the angel of the Lord comes to let her know that God knows all about her and that He is going to bless her through the birth of the son she is carrying.
Hagar can't believe it. Someone cares. She knows this Someone is the God Whom Abram and Sarai speak about.
Genesis 16:13 – 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." (NIV)
Hagar now knows she isn't insignificant. Her misery, pain, and suffering are not only known to God, but He reassures her that He will always care about her. The Lord sends her back to Sarai and blesses her with a son, Ishamel, "the Lord hears".
On the days when we feel invisible, forgotten, and abandoned, let us remember that God sees us. He is there to protect us, guide us, and love us. There is not one thing that happens to us that He is not aware of. He will never take His love away or leave us or forsake us. He loves us with a love that is merciful, kind, and everlasting. He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us on Calvary.
Prayer: Father, remind us that we are not only always in Your sight, but also always in Your heart. You love us with an eternal love. You want only good for us. Help us to see You as a loving Father Who sees us and cares for us. Amen.
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Thank you!
What an evil grandmother you had!!
Thanks for the comforting thoughts, Becky.
I really enjoy your devotionals. But this one today was really touching.
What a great one thanks for sharing.
(Ontario Canada)
Thanks, Becky, for your encouraging reminder that God always know we are here, blessings.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. To God be the glory! Blessings.
Good morning, Becky,
Thank you, this was beautiful and so true.
I had a grandmother like that also, only it was my older brother she thought the sun rose and set on.
God bless.
Good morning, it’s a very nice day.
Thank you for writing this devotional.
I need to be reminded that God sees me.
Thank you.
Blessings.
Dear Becky, thanks for your devotional today. I was very sorry to read about the way your grandmother treated you. You sure had to deal with some very hurtful feelings very early in your life but one thing for sure, is you stayed strong and became a follower of Jesus. His love and care is so constant and ever available to us. We need be so thankful that He is always there to hear our prayers and respond to us in amazing ways. Blessings for writing and have a wonderful day of joy and peace.
Good morning, Becky,
I wonder why someone like your grandmother didn’t realize what she was doing. It is wonderful that we have God always caring and loving us. As a child, we don’t know that yet and we have times in our lives when we forget to reach out and feel alone. However, God keeps calling us until we get there and reach out. This morning when I was reading your devotional, I looked out the window and the whole sky was glowing this golden colour from the sunrise. It was a blessing for me because at the moment we are anxious about my husband’s mother who is almost 99 and has been extremely healthy until this week. It has been a blessing to see her children and their families pulling together to support her and each other. She has an amazingly strong faith which has helped her and the family – what a blessing.
Thanks for sharing of your experience and using Hagar’s experience to remind us we are truly NEVER ALONE if we believe in Jesus. Blessings.
Thank you, Becky, for today’s devotion.
I takes me back to my childhood days when I felt that way.
I was insignificant, and not seen, in a family of eight children, I was seventh.
My oldest siblings were already in their teens, and they had their great lives of discovery in the teen years of seeing everything and learning things.
Until my baby brother was born, I was last and passed around like a piece of furniture.
‘Who’s looking after him now?’ I heard all the time.
I learned that I shouldn’t make any noise nor upset anything.
And just keep out of the way.
Everywhere I turned, I was getting in someone’s way.
Of course, my brother, who was next older than me, became my closest brother.
I not only learned from him, I just followed him around.
Then I started to attend Sunday School and learned about God and Christ.
There I met others who were in my class, who also discovered that they too were the last ones in their large families.
Learning to be a Christian was very important to me.
The story that impressed me most then, was the one about the ‘good Samaritan’.
At 4 years old, I had in my mind, that’s, what I want to be like.
So at a very young age, your story was that of many of us.
In a world where children should be seen and not heard, had a bad impression on all of us.
I taught Sunday School for many years, and I encouraged all my students to do what they think will help them discover what they can do to serve in this world.
Today after listening to all these children, and encouraging them, I feel honored to have been in their life in a positive way.
They all turned out to be very good people, and now they are the ones who look after everything in our community.
Yes, He loves us all, and don’t we all know it.
But most of all, don’t forget it.
Thank you, Becky, for your time and thoughts of submitting this devotion.
God bless you,
(Quebec)
Dear Becky,
I was so moved by your devotional message about God’s infinite love for us.
I too was fat shamed in the 60’s before there was even that term. I still live with that stigma 60 years later, but NOW I have God who loves me no matter what.
The world can be cruel and unkind. That’s why God needs us to go out and touch people’s lives with love and kindness. We are the Hope and Light for a very dark world.
Thank you for sharing your journey and bringing God into focus.
Blessings.
Thank you for sharing this, Becky. How sad that your grandmother acted like that! May we remember that God sees us — always.