Unseen

My mind was still that morning.

A heaviness had swept over me.

For as long as I can remember, the day before my birthday I have always spent time reflecting.

Snapshots of the year’s events, places and people playing like a movie in my mind as my heart expresses some form of gratitude for these gifts.

But the older I get, there is a noticeable difference in the snapshots.

There are people missing,

Maybe that is why yesterday I struggled to quiet my thoughts.

As thankful as I am for all of the wonderful people God has placed in my life, there is still a void from the ones who are no longer here.

I long for those conversations around the table with my parents.

Talking about the day’s events, or reminiscing about past ones.

My emotions dance beneath the surface of a smile.

Knowing that they could erupt at any moment,  I say nothing and look out the window.

If my husband noticed that I was unusually quiet on the way to church, he did not question it.

He filled the silence with small talk until we pulled into the parking lot.

These days, when my heart is heavy, I prefer to fly under the radar unseen.

But I am never not seen.

As the service ended, a couple asked us to join them for breakfast.

Full of love and life, they are the parents of another friend of ours who happened to be away.

It was not until we were at the table having conversations about family and the day’s events that I truly saw the provision.

Conversations around the table with parents.

“I see you,” He whispers.

He provided exactly what my heavy heart needed at that moment.

And to the couple who answered the nudge to extend the invitation for breakfast, you were a part of answered prayer that morning.

Thank you.

God shows us in His Word that He is a God who sees us.

Hagar had a heavy heart.

She felt alone after she conceived a child with Abram, at the direction of Saria, his wife.

Mistreated, this Egyptian slave decided to flee from her mistress.

But God saw her in her distress.

He sent an angel to her.

Provision.

“The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 

And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.

Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” 

The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” Genesis 16: 7-10 NIV

Hagar recognized the provision. She knew that she had been seen by God, and gave a new name to Him: El Roi.

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”  Genesis 16: 13 NIV

He provided exactly what her heavy heart needed at that moment.

Do you ever feel unseen? 

That no one notices the feelings that dance beneath the surface of your smile?

Friends, there is One who always sees you.

Can you see the provision He has placed in your life?

My prayer is that you see it today.