Modeh Ani:
"I thank You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great."
The Lord’s Prayer:
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."
"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.'”
Hagar’s story is one of pain, rejection, and transformation. As an Egyptian servant in Abram and Sarah’s household, she found herself in an impossible situation: forced into a relationship, then despised when she conceived. Rejected by Sarah, Hagar fled to the wilderness, a place of desolation and isolation.
But the wilderness wasn’t the end of her story. There, by a spring, God met her. He didn’t merely speak promises over her future—He revealed Himself as the God who sees. Hagar, who likely felt invisible and insignificant, suddenly realized that God not only noticed her but cared deeply about her.
This is the God we serve: One who sees us in our struggles, meets us in our wilderness, and promises a future that we cannot yet imagine.
A weary traveler wandered through a dense fog, lost and afraid. The mist was so thick that even his own hands were invisible before him. He stumbled and fell repeatedly, despairing that no one could see him, let alone guide him.
But as he lay on the cold ground, he noticed a faint light glowing through the haze. It was a small lantern held by a watchman, who called out, “I’ve been watching you all along. I saw every fall, every turn, and I’ve been waiting for you to notice the light.”
The traveler rose, comforted by the knowledge that even in the fog, he had never been alone.
Meaning: Like the traveler, we often feel lost in life’s fog of uncertainty. Yet God sees us, even when we cannot see Him. His light is always present, waiting for us to turn toward it.
In a parched desert, a young shepherd searched desperately for water. Days of wandering had left him weak, and he began to believe the desert would consume him. But as he collapsed under the weight of exhaustion, his fingers brushed against something cool—an ancient well hidden beneath the sand.
As he began to draw water, an old inscription on the well’s edge caught his eye: “This well was dug for those who believe they are forgotten.”
The shepherd drank deeply, realizing that someone had long ago anticipated the needs of travelers like him. He was not forgotten; provision had been waiting for him all along.
Meaning: In our wilderness seasons, we may feel abandoned, but God has already provided the “wells” we need—places of refreshment and hope uniquely designed for us.
A gardener worked tirelessly in a secluded valley, planting seeds and tending the soil. Though no one seemed to notice his labor, he continued faithfully. One day, after a particularly heavy storm had washed away part of the valley, he found a stranger standing quietly by the edge of his field.
“I’ve watched you every day,” the stranger said. “I’ve seen your diligence, your tears, and your faithfulness. What you thought was unseen has grown into something beautiful. I came to tell you that your work is not in vain.”
With that, the gardener turned to see his field, which now flourished with blossoms as far as the eye could see.
Meaning: God sees every effort, every unseen act of faithfulness. Even when it feels like no one notices, God is the silent watcher who acknowledges and blesses our labor.
Hagar’s story reminds us that even when we feel forgotten, God is deeply aware of our pain. He notices the moments when we cry out in despair, and He responds with compassion.
Cross-References:
Reflection: What would change in your life if you believed God saw and cared about every detail of your struggles?
The wilderness is often a metaphor for desolation, yet it’s also the place where God reveals Himself in profound ways.
Cross-References:
Reflection: Are there ways you’ve seen God’s presence in your own wilderness moments? How can you trust Him to provide even in desolation?
Hagar was not forgotten, and neither are you. God’s plans are not thwarted by human rejection or failure.
Cross-References:
Reflection: How does trusting in God’s plan change the way you view uncertainty and waiting?
"Lord, thank You for being the God who sees me. In my struggles, my wilderness moments, and my waiting, You are there. Help me to trust that You are aware of every detail of my life and that You are working all things for good. May I rest in Your provision, knowing that I am not forgotten. Thank You for seeing me and loving me so deeply. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
