— And What That Means for You
Sometimes we read a Bible story and think, “That’s beautiful… but it’s not about me.”
But then there are those moments when Scripture feels like it reaches into our own life—and gently whispers, “This is your story, too.”
That’s what Hagar’s story does.
She isn’t just a name buried in the Old Testament.
She’s a woman who lived through trauma, rejection, loneliness—and met God in the middle of it all.
And in one of the most stunning moments in Scripture, she became the first person to give God a name.
She called Him El Roi—“The God Who Sees Me.”
Hagar’s Wilderness Began with Someone Else’s Choices
You might remember the outline (you can read the story in Genesis 16 & 18): Hagar was a servant in Abraham and Sarah’s household. When Sarah got tired of waiting for God’s promise of a child, she gave Hagar to Abraham. Hagar got pregnant, and suddenly she was caught in a mess she didn’t create.
She was mistreated. Shamed. Pushed aside.
So she ran.
Pregnant, alone, and heartbroken, Hagar fled into the desert.
And maybe you’ve been there too—not in the physical wilderness, but in that emotional, spiritual one.
That place where you feel like no one truly sees you.
You’ve carried responsibilities you didn’t ask for. You’ve been faithful. You’ve given. You’ve waited.
And now you’re wondering… Does anyone even notice that I’m breaking?
God Found Her—Not to Fix Her, But to Be With Her
Here’s what gets me every time:
“The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert…”
— Genesis 16:7
God found her.
He didn’t wait for her to come back.
He didn’t scold her for running.
He found her where she was.
And instead of giving her a lecture, He asked her a question:
“Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” (Genesis 16:8)
God knew the answer—but He wanted her to speak. To be heard. To tell her story.
Can you imagine?
The God of the universe sits beside this hurting woman and invites her to speak.
He validates her pain before He gives her a promise.
What a God.
El Roi — The God Who Sees Me
Overcome, Hagar responds:
“You are the God who sees me… I have now seen the One who sees me.”
— Genesis 16:13
That name—El Roi—has echoed through the generations.
But it wasn’t born in a temple. It wasn’t spoken by a priest.
It came from a wounded, rejected woman sitting by a spring in the desert.
She named God—not from a place of power, but from a place of being seen.
And friend, maybe you need that name today.
Not the God who sees everyone else.
Not the God who sees someday.
But the God who sees you—right now, as you are, where you are.
In the dishes.
In the doctor’s office.
In the heartbreak no one else knows you carry.
He sees you.
Not with judgment.
Not with disappointment.
But with the loving gaze of a Father who’s been watching over you all along.
When She Was Cast Out Again… God Still Stayed
Fast forward to Genesis 21. Hagar is cast out again—this time with her teenage son, Ishmael. They wander until the water runs out, and she lays him under a bush to die. She walks away because she can’t bear to watch.
But again… God shows up.
“God heard the boy crying… Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.”
— Genesis 21:17,19
He doesn’t shame her.
He doesn’t say, “We’ve already done this, Hagar.”
He meets her again. With provision. With compassion. With a way forward.
Sometimes we don’t need God to part the Red Sea.
Sometimes we just need Him to open our eyes to the well that’s already in front of us.
So What About You?
What if Hagar’s story isn’t just her story… but a glimpse into yours?
What if God is not asking you to “pull it together,” but instead asking:
“Where have you come from, and where are you going?”
What pain are you carrying from the past?
What fears are you facing about the future?
And can you let Him meet you right there?
A Quiet Invitation: Let God See You Today
Maybe you need to whisper this prayer today:
“El Roi, if You really see me… then please, show me how.
Show me where You’ve been with me all along.
Show me what You’re doing in this pain, in this place, in this moment.”
And then… just sit with that.
Let yourself be seen.
You don’t have to strive.
You don’t have to fix everything.
You just have to let His eyes meet yours.
Because He’s already near.
Want to Go Deeper?
Here’s a journaling prompt just for you:
“Where have I come from, and where am I going?”
Write freely. Be honest. And then ask God to show you how He’s been present all along.
Let’s Pray
God of Hagar, El Roi,
Thank You for seeing me.
For meeting me in my wilderness—not with shame, but with compassion.
Help me to see You as You are: kind, present, and faithful.
Open my eyes to the well You’ve already placed before me.
Teach me to trust that even in the desert, I am never alone.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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