El Roi The God Who Sees Me

Interestingly enough, this story and chain of events has absolutely nothing to do with nature or wilderness…  Unless, of course, you count the emergency department at the hospital as a bit wild.   I’ll give you that one.   The ED is a place where anything and everything can happen.  On a daily basis, it does see a full spectrum of life-and-death situations alongside countless other, less dramatic cases. 

After four straight days of barely eating and feeling generally awful, I decided that if I wasn’t significantly better by the next day, I’d head to urgent care.   Little did I know, that wasn’t the plan at all.  (Isn’t it fascinating how God works like that?)    As I was trying to make an appointment at the local clinic, I suddenly felt a rocking sensation and nearly lost consciousness.   Needless to say, that was all it took for me to decide it was time to go to the ED.   

As you can imagine, for someone with a predisposition to spiral into anxiety, this sent me reeling.   But off we trekked, through the “wilderness” of the city and into the hospital parking lot.   Still off balance and sobbing, in we go.   Now at this point, they have me registered and it’s up to me to wait patiently.   Patience… can we just get real?   Anxiety knows no patience!

Nonetheless I waited.   I cried.   And by then I was shaking uncontrollably.    As I look around the very cold waiting area, I happen to notice an elderly lady watching me.   She mouthed to me “I am praying for you”.   I nodded back, tears falling harder now.   Before I knew it, she walked right over to me, put her hands on me and began praying aloud. I thanked her and she said- “No. Thank God. You are going to be ok- He is with you.”

In that moment, as I cried harder, and continued to shake, I realized that I was not forgotten.   God saw me.   He sees me.   He IS the God who sees me.

He IS the God who sees me

Does this remind you of anything?   It should.   Hagar is cast out of her master’s home and is truly a wilderness wanderer.   But because He saw her during her time of distress, she came to know and acknowledge Him as El Roi, “The God Who Sees”.    And just like Hagar, God sees us.  He knows our situation and is watching over us.   (Genesis 16)

Just like Hagar, God sees us.

God cares deeply about His creatures; so much so that He sacrificed His own Son so that we could have eternal life with Him.   His love for us can be seen in the most remarkable, unexpected ways.   I want you to be encouraged today and know that no matter what is happening, God sees, and He loves you!

Think About It

In what ways can you be more attuned to seeing others who are struggling, as the elderly lady did for me?

When have you experienced a situation where you felt God’s comfort or presence through an unexpected source or moment of kindness?  Encourage others by sharing in the comments.  

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In this blog, I hope you'll join me on my quiet adventures—simple walks and conversations with God, away from the hustle and bustle.

In the meantime, don't forget to check out Liz Trickey's blog, "God of My Depths," and Pearlene Richardson's blog, "Measurable Growth," for more insight into how nature reveals God's character in and to us.