A Quiet Time Guide in Celebration of International Women’s Day
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the one who sees me?” Genesis 16:13 NLT
I see you. Three simple words often used today to mean recognizing someone’s strength or accomplishment or understanding where a person is coming from. Imagine God saying that - I see you. I’m proud of you. I understand what you’re going through.
Powerful, right? We all want to be seen and heard. One description of God is El Roi, the God who sees. We will be studying this topic together as we celebrate International Women's Day. Our hope is that these scriptures, thoughts and questions fuel your relationship with God. Enjoy this guide as we celebrate seeing and hearing from God and also being seen and heard by God and others.
For links to the whole series, see https://www.womentoday.international/2023-international-womens-day
Letting Ourselves Be Seen
Ann Efstathion, Northborough, Massachusetts, USA
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God
as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day,
and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:8-9
Where are you?
This phrase in Hebrew is only one word: ayekah. Ayekah expresses more than mere location; it expresses God’s heart that He actually understands what is going on with us and He doesn’t want us to hide.
The angel of the Lord “found” Hagar near a spring in the desert (Genesis 16:7). The angel asked Hagar, “Where have you come from, and where are you going?” God shows his concern for Hagar and her child in her difficult situation. (Genesis 16:11)
If God is coming toward us, why do we hide or run away? Maybe we feel ashamed or we fear rejection. Maybe we feel like we don’t really need God’s help or maybe we feel so disappointed with the way some things have turned out that we don’t even want to face God. One of my greatest fears is EXPOSURE: it’s hard for me to sit still in the messy reality of my life. Who am I really? It’s easier to run away, avoid, or stay busy.
In the gospel of Luke, we meet a woman who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years. She had a lot of reasons to hide, but she was desperate. She had faith that Jesus could heal her and she acted on her faith. Luke 8:47 reads:
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed,
came trembling and fell at his feet.
She risked exposure, letting herself be seen and she came face-to-face with her savior. There she received complete healing and complete acceptance.
I made some goals for myself at the beginning of this new year. I decided I really wanted to grow in my prayer life; I wanted to KNOW God better and have a more vulnerable connection with Him. In early January, I got some unexpected news about my health and my life took a complete turn. I feel a desperation for God’s healing and acceptance as I wrestle with my questions and fears. I want God to search me and show me what is in my heart. I want to come out of hiding.
Praise God that He sees us and hears us; let us be women who bring our whole selves into His presence to be known and loved deeply.
A question to reflect on:
- What are some reasons you might hide from God?
Pray through Psalm 139:23-24; talk honestly with God about anything that comes up (fears, anxieties, unforgiveness, etc).
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
1 Comments
Mar 9, 2023, 7:57:30 AM
Rachel - Thank you, Ann, for sharing these scriptures and thoughts. The reflection questions and scripture was so thought provoking and brought me deeper in my understanding of why I run and hide. I will keep on this journey to overcome my fear of exposure so I can draw closer to Him with a greater vulnerability I have not known. I’m excited about getting closer with my God and knowing him better. I too share the same 2023 goal of depending my prayer life. Thank you again for taking the time to share with women around the world some very relatable things. I prayed today for you and your unexpected turn in health. Love in Christ, Rachel