More Than A Feeling

 The other day, I was talking with a friend about abandonment. It's easy to get caught up in caregiving responsibilities and look up down the road to realize no one who used to walk with you is with you anymore. Kinda feels like the rest of the world just went on with life and we didn't. Sometimes the feelings of abandonment are more than just feelings - we really were abandoned. That's an empty, lonely feeling...reality.

As caregivers, we may feel forgotten, distanced from life, and unseen.

This is why the story of Hagar stands out so much in my mind so often. Hagar was Sarah's servant - she did what she was told. It was a culture WAY different than our own. It was Sarah's idea for Abraham to sleep with Hagar. It never works out when we try to do God's job. But I have to admit that sometimes, waiting on Him to act is hard. 

But Hagar had a rotten attitude. She was kind of gloating over Sarah once she became pregnant. They were both wrong and I think we can all agree this would be a very sticky situation. Women can fight, now. Lol. 

Hagar was sent away. Picture this. She's pregnant. Her emotions are going crazy and her body is betraying her. Now she's been run out of her home and she's out of a job. She was NOT in a pleasant place. Her world had been turned upside down and topsy-turvy! 

But get this - in verse 7, it says the angel of God FOUND Hagar. The use of the word found indicates the act of seeking, looking, searching. The angel asked Hagar two things. Where have you come from? And Where are you going? She could only answer one of them. She replied that she was running away from her boss, Sarah. She probably didn't know where she was going. There's no time for planning when your world gets jerked out from under you. (As caregivers know so well!)

After the angel gave Hagar a promise and told her to name the child Ishmael because God heard about her misery... she realized God could see her. I love  verse 13 which says that after this encounter she referred to God as "The God who sees" because she said, I have seen the One who sees me! It was just as life-changing as getting kicked out of her home by Sarah.

Hagar found comfort in knowing that God could indeed see her. We can find the same comfort in knowing that that same God sees us too. Even though life, friends, and family have abandoned us to one degree or another - God did not. 

Today, I'll remind myself that God sees me. He knows right where I am and all the complex issues I am dealing with. Hagar wasn't hiding from God - but He knew just where to find her. I'll remind myself today that He can find me too. Actually, I'll take joy in letting Him find me and waiting for Him to meet me in that place of despair. I want Him to see me. I need Him to see me... and He does. That's why I can trust Him for one more day - will you join me?

_____________________________________________________

Peace OUt - It's in the Bible!

One of my latest releases is a 31-day devotional Peace Out! It's in the Bible. Each day's scripture has something to do with peace - and how we can continue to enjoy it and walk in it - no matter what! It's available on Kindle and print in my Amazon bookstore. You can also get the eBook on Buy Me A Coffee.