by Anna Haiar

The God Who Sees

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“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 New International Version

There are days when you feel invisible. The effort you put in at work goes unnoticed. The sacrifices you make for your family are taken for granted. Even in the midst of friends or church, you may feel overlooked, unseen, or forgotten. Hagar knew that feeling. Cast out into the wilderness, abandoned by those who should have protected her, she wondered if anyone noticed her pain. But there, in her loneliness, God met her. She called Him El Roi—“the God who sees.”

This truth is more than a comforting idea; it is the very heart of our faith. We confess a God who does not leave us to search for Him in our despair, but a God who comes to us. He sees us in our sin and weakness, and rather than turning away, He enters in. In Christ, God took on flesh—He did not overlook our need but bore it on the cross. What greater comfort can there be for those who feel unseen than to know that the Lord of the universe not only sees us, but redeems us?

I’m reminded of Luther’s Small Catechism, where the explanation to the First Article of the Apostle’s Creed says that God gives me “clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, spouse and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need.” Our God sees and cares for both our physical and spiritual needs. And in the means of grace—Word and Sacrament—He delivers Himself to us, saying, “I see you. I know you. You are Mine.”

When you feel invisible in the eyes of the world, remember the eyes of your Savior are upon you. You are not overlooked. You are seen, loved, and held secure in Christ.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado