When we read the story of Hagar and her son Ishmael, we realise how much God cares about us as individuals. When Hagar ran away with her son, God found her. An angel appeared and spoke to her, telling her to go back to Sarah. Hagar realised that God had seen her, and cared for. She said: ‘You’re the God who sees me! Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!’ She returned home for a while but then Abraham sent her and Ishmael away. Hagar was once again in a desperate position. She had nothing, but wanted to provide for her son. ‘She thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And…she began to sob’ (Genesis 21:16 NIVUK). But ‘God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven…“Lift the boy up…I will make him…great”…Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water’ (Genesis 21:17-19 NIV). When we turn to Him, He’ll show us a ‘well of water’ we never knew existed. He’ll step in and help us out. When we’re facing rejection and pain, we may be tired and lonely. We may feel like we’ve got nothing left to give. The good news is God’s resources are inexhaustible. The Bible tells us that ‘He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak’ (Isaiah 40:29 NIV). He sees all of us. He knows the suffering we’ve faced. He knows the situations we find ourselves in. No matter how low we are in the world’s eyes, and no matter how badly we’ve been treated, God’s still there for us. He cares about each of us personally.

What Now?

Invite a group of friends round and play the childhood game ‘Hide and Seek’. While you’re hiding, use the time to thank God that He sees you and finds you, whatever situation you’re in.