I continue my quest to read the Bible through this year and
in my reading, I’ve come across a common thread. It’s funny how we see
different things in familiar passages, even though we’ve read them many times
before. I’m supposing that is because as Hebrews 4:12 says, the Word of God
is living and powerful, it’s sharper than a two-edged sword, dividing
between the soul and the spirit. That’s intense. Even though I’ve had that
verse memorized for years, taught it in many classes, and read it who knows how
many times, it still reverberates through me. God’s word is alive. That
blows my mind – yet I feel it when I read the word and sense it brings changes
inside me as I yield my will to His.
The other part of that verse that sticks out to me today is
the diving asunder of soul and spirit. Now, that’s the Old King James
because that’s how I memorized it! But think about that a second. God (and His
word) can tell the difference between our spirit-man and our soul. God knows
the difference between our spirit and our emotions – and He sees when we are on
emotional overload, which is often a state caregivers live in. I know I do! Lol
This morning, as I was reading the story of Jakob and
Rachel, I found that phrase again – God saw. This time it was coming
from Jakob, who is declaring that God saw the mistreatment he endured under
Laban. Genesis 31:12 God tells Jakob I have seen all that Laban is doing to
you. He then declares to Laban in verse 42 of the next chapter – God has
seen my affliction. By then, he and
all his family and flocks are headed out.
This reminded me of the recent reading of the story of Hagar
and how she realized that God saw the afflictions she was enduring. And even on
up into Exodus 3, verse 7, God says I have seen the oppression of my people
who are in Egypt, and I’ve heard their cry. God’s word is able to
miraculously discern between the deep faith-filled cry of our heart toward Him
– and the emotional response to the difficulty of our situation. When He sees
us – He sees both. He sees the hard stuff we face day after day. He sees when
we cry and no one knows. He hears our heart crying out for His strength to
carry us through each moment.
Now the interesting thing to me in all three of these
accounts was that each of them had to move. Hagar moved out of Abraham’s house
and God established her and Ishmael. Jakob moved on from the experience with
Laban. And the Children of Israel were rescued from the oppressive grip of
Pharaoh.
God saw – but it also took action on each of their parts to
be free. For us as caregivers, we may not physically move (thank God!). But we
can take action the first one being to trust Him for this day. Trust He sees
us. Trust He hears us. Trust He is walking this journey with us. And the cool
thing is He knows that His Spirit can discern between the outcry of our hearts
and our complete trust of Him. They are not opposites; they go hand in hand.
Today, I will purposefully take time to acknowledge and
meditate on the truth that He sees me right where I am. I’ll be thankful that
He hears my heart cry whether it is audible or silent. My soul takes rest in
that recognition – that He hears and sees me. I’ll try to stay in that restive
mode today – will you join me?
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