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The God Who Sees Is Near My Broken Heart

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Advent scripture reading: Luke 1:5-56

‭Luke‬ ‭1:28‬ ‭ESV‬

“And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Have you ever had a time when you felt rejected, insignificant, or unseen?

Maybe, it’s that time you're scrolling through social media and stumble upon pictures of friends or family participating in something YOU weren’t invited to.

Or… that moment you’re in a conversation with people and they flippantly talk about “that fun thing” that happened when you weren’t included.

I think we've all experienced feelings of smallness in those situations.

Maybe you feel unseen now, invisible in the hustle and bustle of the season, lost in grief, or the stress of a hard circumstance?

I don't know what weighs your heart down, but I'm here to tell you that God, El Roi- "The God Who Sees", SEES YOU, right where you are!

He sees us and he hears our cries. It is because he knows our need for redemption that he sent his only son to be born. It is this reason of redemption that we celebrate the season of Christmas.

This name of God, "The God Who Sees" was spoken first by Hagar, the maidservant of Sarai (Sarah). You can find her full story in Genesis chapters 16 & 21. When she faced adversity in the house of Abram and Sarai, God revealed himself to her. God sought her out and made it known that she was seen.

Genesis 16:13 says:

Although we don't know much about Hagar, we DO know that because of Sarai's impatience for the fulfillment of God's promise, Hagar was given to Abram as a "wife". In her barrenness, Sarah, wanted a surrogate mother of sorts. Although the Bible doesn't say, I can imagine that Hagar had lots of emotions and thoughts surrounding these events.

The Bible does say, " she looked with contempt on her mistress". This word contempt might convey that she felt used or that her only worth was in the baby she carried. This is what I imagine I'd feel at least. Then adding to the array of feelings she must have already had, Hagar is harshly rejected by Sarai and Abram. (Genesis 16:6) But God meets her right where she is, in her HARD circumstance, and she acknowledges Him as The God Who Sees Her. In fact, this is the only encounter in the Bible where he is called by this name, El Roi.

God then gives her the hope to return to Abram and Sarai with a promise that He would multiply her offspring (Genesis 16:11)

Though this name, El Roi, is infrequently used in the Bible, scripture DOES show us many encounters with this distinct characteristic of God. Many of these encounters were with women. I want to focus specifically on a couple of these stories and how he loves his people, using “the ordinary” for extraordinary things to show his glory despite the hard circumstances they found themselves in.

Perhaps one of the most significant encounters from God, El Roi, is when an ordinary young girl from Nazareth was chosen to become the mother of the Messiah.

‭We read in Luke‬ ‭1:28‬ ‭ESV‬ that:

Mary, though not royalty as you would expect the mother of a king to be, she was still seen, favored, and chosen. God uses her to bring us HOPE of a Savior and Redeemer

We find additional stories when Jesus matured and began ministering here on earth. He certainly showed this characteristic of the "God who sees" to people who were rejected by the culture they lived in. He was repeatedly drawn to people who were seemingly insignificant and ordinary, and otherwise unseen by others.

When Jesus encountered the woman at the well, though they had never met before he already knew her, he saw her brokenness and her need for spiritual restoration. (John 4:7-15) He gave her the hope of Living Water.

The woman with the issue of bleeding had experienced such rejection from her condition that unseen had become her identity. She only wanted to touch the hem of Jesus' garment believing that this would heal her, then simply slip away from the crowd. But, Jesus immediately feeling the power leave him didn't allow her incredible faith to go unseen. (Luke 8:43-48)

Throughout the gospels, we see how time and time again, Jesus interrupted what he was doing to show people that he saw them when others might not have.

I hope these stories encourage you by knowing God sees you right where you are. He loves you and favors you. No matter what you are feeling right now or working through in your life I encourage you to find HOPE in this miracle of Jesus' birth, that He came for you. Your celebration of HIM does not have to be filled with commercialized "magic" and wonder but can focus on God’s redemptive power. If you allow him, He will restore you in your brokenness.

Because Jesus was born for the broken.

Reflection:

1. Are you feeling unseen, invisible in the hustle and bustle of the season, lost in grief, or the stress of a hard circumstance?
2. Identify where you TRULY are this season. Take some time to journal what you are feeling. Whether you are feeling joy, heaviness, or a combination of both, ask God to SEE YOU and meet you where you are.

Prayer:

El Roi, I thank you that you are a GOD WHO SEES me when I'm feeling rejected and alone. You love me in the midst of my hard circumstances and when I'm hurting. I pray that you help me to see past my feelings and recognize the hope that this season of Christmas brings to my life, the hope of a savior. Lord, meet me where I am right now and help me to see myself the way YOU see me.

If you would like to download a PDF printable copy of this devotional click this link Week 1 Advent- BORN FOR THE BROKEN PDF (3).pdf

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As you move on with your day I encourage you to continue preparing your heart for the celebration of our Savior's birth using these tools I’ve given you. Remember God, El Roi- The God Who Sees YOU!

Christmas blessings to you friend,

Melissa

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