Guest Post by Diana Abe
Today I’m excited to share Diana’s writing with you. I loved this post so much! I love how Diana explores 7 ways God sees us in our painful circumstances.
Most days I find myself overwhelmed with the things that I need to finish daily. My toddlers press for my attention constantly, and as a mother of multiples, I find myself unable to satisfy their every need simultaneously.
When they were newborns I asked these questions several times: How do I pick them all up, or feed them at the same time?
How will I watch over them at the same time? Which baby do I first burp?
At the end of the day, I am left to wonder if I SAW through every minuscule detail of my children’s requests.
EL-ROI God who sees me
So, as I pray along with them and put them sleep with these questions, I am comforted knowing that EL-ROI, my God has seen me and my struggles in my wilderness.
When I am weak, I see the strength of God shining forth.
There are many days I wished that people would see me for me, but humans fail. It is in that exact moment Christ shines through because HE is EL-ROI, the God who sees me for me.
ONE OF THE BATTLES WE FACE IS THE QUESTION -DOES GOD SEE ME FOR ME?
Here is how EL-ROI visited 7 different people in the Bible and the lessons we can draw from them :
God who sees you in your struggles
Are you a single mom trying her best to raise your children? You are an empty nester struggling to let go?
Are you in an abusive relationship and struggle to get out of it? Please seek help, God will see you through it and give you that strength.
Hagar wondered if anyone saw her berated and thrown out by Sarah. She wanders in the wilderness and meets with the Angel of the Lord who blesses her and her child.
Genesis 16: 13 Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”
God who saw you before the foundation of the world:
Nathanael is called a guileless man by Jesus. He had never seen Christ, but it seems he was expecting the coming of the Messiah.
I wonder perhaps as a custom, Nathanael was spending his time in prayer under the fig tree.
He knew about Moses and the Prophets but didn’t know that Christ had come. So, when he was told that to come and see Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael decided to go and see.
John 1: 48,49, ESV Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus knew his name and saw him when he was under the fig tree.
My friend, this omniscient God knows your name, and your location.
–Have you been expecting Him?
–Have you been searching for peace?
God who sees the sinner seeking Him
Zacchaeus was a dishonest Jewish tax collector who worked under the Romans. One day, he heard that Jesus was passing by Jericho, and since he was very short, he climbs on top of a tree.
{Read Luke 19:1-10}Jesus saw Zacchaeus up on that tree and dined with him.
Socializing with sinners are never encouraged even today but the greatest example that Jesus showed here was by dining with Zacchaeus.
Note that Jesus didn’t just hang out with sinners, He pointed out their sins and lead them to salvation.
When you hang out with those who are living a sinful lifestyle, do you hesitate to share the Gospel with them?
Have you been longing to see Jesus face to face? You find yourself lost in the desires of this world, but may I remind you that God has seen your need for HIM.
El-Roi God who sees you in your rejections:
God saw Peter, an expert fisherman abandoning his boat. Peter knew exactly where the fishes would be and toiled all night in those shallow waters. But his nets came up empty. {Read Luke 5: 1-10}
In the morning, he abandons his boat, and we read in the Scriptures that God SAW Peter amid the crowd that was pressing onto HIM.
We tend to give up easily after trying all day, and all year.
We give up on our marriage, our children, our friendships, and our job hunts because we tried and failed.
We know Jesus is right there in front of us, yet we abandon our passions and prayer needs.
He sees you abandoning that very thing you worked hard for, and so what does Jesus do?
Jesus steps into the boat of our hurts and deep sorrows.
My friend, allow me to wipe my tears as I write these words because I have kept many of my traumas to myself and haven’t let Jesus step into those areas.
Allow HIM to come into our disappointments so that He can show us how to experience miracles through Christ.
God who sees the need for second chances
Jesus knew the sins of each one in that crowd who wanted to stone the woman caught in adultery. We get so caught up in stoning someone else for their “greater “sin” that we forget God can see our own dirty sins.
Every sin, is sin before the Holy God.
Christ has seen our bad choices even though we have kept them hidden from others. He sees through our hearts and minds for there is nothing hidden from Him.
Everything we do in the darkness will be revealed in the Light. Yet, He is a compassionate and loving God.
Jesus saw this alienated woman, forgave her sins and set her free.
God who sees you in your shame
Here is Hannah longing for her womb to be blessed, hoping she will be pregnant month after month. So, Hannah took her pains to the Lord as she was provoked by her counterpart.
Society puts everyone in this checklist and wants you to get married, have children, and here you are aching, wondering if things will happen.
Amid the scornful words of the Eli and Peninnah of this world, may I remind you that EL-ROI weeps along with you. Never cease to pray, for God will surely show His favor.
EL-Roi God who sees you on your deathbed
Prayer is one of the best preparations for death because by it we fetch in God’s strength and grace to enable us to finish well. ~Mathew Henry commentary.
Psalm 145:18,19 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Isaiah 38:5 Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.
We can ask the Lord to extend the days of our lives on this earth. If it is His will, it will surely come to pass.
A Sovereign God who sees us even on the deathbed. Praise the Lord
Diana is married to her loving husband and privileged to be called mama by her triplets.
She proudly calls herself a stay-at-home missionary mom whose prayer is to raise godly arrows and be a Pen in the Hand of God.
Visit her over at Diana’s Diaries, where she pens Biblical insights about growing spiritually deep and being fully armored against the invisible enemy.
You will find her active on these platforms as well:
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Valerie, thank you for sharing this post at your site today. As I re-read it again here , I was reminded how God truly sees us in our exact needs.
I pray many are blessed and comforted by this message from God .
You and I are seen by our Creator in our struggles, fears , and worries
I love this post Diana. I’m so glad our God sees us right where we are!
Oh wow! Diana and Valerie, I love this! I feel like I should print it off and carry it with me everywhere. Whatever and wherever … He is present and active. El-Roi, the God who sees me! <3
Thank you Deb for the kind words. You are truly a blessing . The Lord sees you !!!