In Genesis 16 an Egyptian slave named Hagar is in a horrible and desperate situation. It is so bad that she runs away, a choice that could easily be a death sentence. Alone, out in the desert, she encounters the Living God in such a significant way, she calls Him, “The God who sees me”.
If we are honest we all have times when we are compelled to ask: where are you God? Why did You let this happen? How can You be good and stand by and do nothing? Why didn’t You save him? Protect her? As a therapist, I come up against these questions constantly. Injustice, abuse, isolation and poverty just don’t make sense if there really is a loving God sovereign over all things – until you begin to see things from His point of view. Over the years, bit by bit, God has shown me, through His word, what He sees and what He’s doing. Every time I get a new piece of understanding my heart is quieted, comforted even, and I am able to go on, trusting Him. But then comes another story of suffering, abuse and heartache and I find myself having to ask for more insight into His seeming passivity at crucial times, times when any “loving god” would have surely shown up.
One of the things that helps me when dealing with incomprehensible realities is to step back and try to take in all the factors going on at one time. No one, ever (except for God), has the whole and complete point of view of the things that happen in this world. We are always missing pieces of the puzzle of life that would make sense of the how and why. But we can, with God’s help, see more. And more helps.
When you struggle to make peace with your life, try to walk around it and get a multitude of views. Something like this:
God sees you. He sees you the individual. You are His beloved child. He sees how many hairs are on your head and how fast your heart beats. He sees your sorrows and your joys. He knows your longings and your fears. He remembers what He made you for and knows how far along you are in the discovery.
God sees your family. He sees each member of your family and all the interactions you have. The good ones and the destructive ones. He has a vision for your family, one of unity and love. He doesn’t forget about each of you as individuals while he works on the whole.
God sees your neighborhood. He’s aware of the tone and mood of your street, whether it is fearful or friendly. He knows how many elderly are shut in and alone and how many children wish they had a friend to play with. He sees the crime, the weeds and the prejudices that infect where you live. He cares about all these things. He wants better for you and your neighbors.
God sees your whole city, every business, school, restaurant and park. He sees every overflowing trash can and flowering tree. He sees potential. He has hopes and dreams for a beautiful city where all the inhabitants are blessed and thriving.
God sees all these details and cares about every one. He sees that past, present and future at all times. It is not hard for Him to keep it all in mind. He is watching every storyline and weaving them all together to accomplish His plans for an amazing life for all His people. He honors free will but also answers prayers. His is in control at all times though we are not His puppets. How can this be? I don’t know, but thinking about all these proportions reminds me of how small I am. Aware of my smallness, and the good I have seen Him do, I find surrender to and acceptance of His choices easier. I once again can lean into, “He works all things for good … “ and find peace for my troubled soul.