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I'm so glad you're here. Let me share another reason the story of Hagar holds such special meaning for me. Sometimes the Lord makes a verse or a portion of scripture so personal and real, it is forever imprinted on your heart.
I remember a time when I was having difficulty in a family relationship, and I felt very misunderstood. I tried everything to have that person listen to me, to get her to try to understand how she had hurt me. But it was to no avail. I became upset and angry inside. It became nearly impossible for those emotions not to come out whenever we were together.
Then one day as I was studying the story of Hagar in Genesis 16, the Lord helped me know that He sees me, too. The situation I described above had left me feeling invisible. I felt like no one understood. I had trouble dealing with the fact that I couldn’t change the other person’s response to me. I felt stuck.
But then I learned the Lord wanted me to change my response to her. He helped me know that He saw me, but not just me, He saw what was happening, He saw the pain in my heart, He saw my needs being left unmet, and He saw the emotions she stirred up.
He showed me that when I was presented with her upsetting me and was tempted to lash out, I should put my finger over my mouth. It was my cue to stop my anger and frustration from escaping. Then in that moment I needed to tell myself, “He sees me.”
Suddenly, knowing that someone saw it all, that He knew my heart, felt my pain, and was with me, made all the difference. He heard the hurtful words. He saw the crazy making that was happening; those times when what was said didn’t match with what was done. I wasn’t alone any longer. And the best part of it was my anger and frustration subsided. My feelings were validated as I talked with the Lord. And that meant, in time, my relationship with her changed as my anger diffused.
The Bible tells us the well in that wilderness place where Hagar was, became known as “Beer-lahai-roi” which means the “well of the Living One Who Sees Me.”
Refreshment came to Hagar in the wilderness by the Lord and His word, and the same can be true for you. The Lord meets us in our wilderness places and refreshes us with His Truth. He gives us help to move forward and leads us out of that place.
Are you in a wilderness place right now? Or have you been in the past? Maybe you're in need of refreshment. You can find it by spending time with the Lord and reading His word.
Here are a few verses from God’s word that have refreshed me.
When my heart feels shattered:
Psalm 34:18 NLT
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
When I feel needy:
Psalm 5:1-3: NLT:
“O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”
When I feel weak and helpless:
Psalm 73:25-26 NLT
“Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”
When my life feels too heavy:
Matthew 11:28-30 AMPC
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16] For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good- not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.”
When I need direction:
Jeremiah 33:3 AMPC
"Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).”
I pray that reading these encouraging words has brought hope to your heart. May the Lord meet you with the refreshment you need.
Finding hope in Him as He comforts me in His love,
Cheryl
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