When you’re waiting, waiting, waiting, for God to show up, you can grow weary, frustrated, and maybe even a little cranky. After all, you need help. You’ve prayed and prayed, and still you wonder if you’re bring ignored. It’s not always easy to understand those times, but maybe it helps to consider a key moment when the Bible illustrates this point more clearly. Consider the story of a woman named Hagar. Her name may not come with instant recognition for you, but her story may illuminate the way you perceive the things of God. Hagar was a handmade to Sarai, Abram’s wife. When Sarai couldn’t conceive, she gave her handmaid to Abram to be his wife so that Sarai might have children through her and build a family. Of course, nothing went quite as Sarai had hoped and as soon as Hagar was pregnant, she began to make Sarai miserable, only increasing Sarai’s suffering over being childless. Eventually, the two women were so mean to one another, Hagar finally ran away. She ran into the desert to consider what to do next.
Guess what? The angel of God showed up! Speaking for God, the angel called Hagar by name. He knew who she was. He knew she was pregnant. He knew her story. How? Because that’s God’s story. He knows our troubles, our conflicts, our stories and He knows when we need Him to show up. Hagar responded to the angel by saying, “You are the God who sees me. I have now seen the one who sees me.” What an amazing encounter? Hagar was not just a servant in the house of Abram. She was known. She was cared for and God had a plan for her life. Her son, Ishmael would be the older brother of Isaac and both would play important roles in God’s plans for Israel. Once Hagar felt acknowledged and understood, she went back home.
The thing to consider is this. If you’re waiting for something, a new job, financial relief, some kind of breakthrough, you’re not waiting for God to finally discover you need Him. You’re not waiting for Him to show you favor or look your way. He’s already looking. He knows you by name just as surely as He knew the name of Hagar. He sees the trouble you are in and it’s not too hard for Him to help you. In fact, He’s already at work on the answer, even if you can’t yet see what the answer might be.
You are not resigned to waiting. You are not drifting along alone and forgotten. You are seen, known, and in good hands. Keep watching because God has already shown up and has begun the work that will make a difference. Like Hagar, you can pray and lift your hands to the One who sees you right now, the One who is with you always.
