September 2018 Luke and I drove to Dallas, TX. We were in the midst of one of the most difficult trials of our life. (There is no hurt like Church hurt.) Our spiritual shepherds, mentors, and even closest friends were pulling away from us. We carried with us the heavy weight of grief and confusion.
Our purpose for the trip was to attend the International Justice Mission's annual Global Prayer Gathering; a tradition for us to attend for a number of years.
The weekends always encouraged, inspired and deepened our prayer lives as a couple. And we knew during this season in our lives, we badly needed rekindling!
At the gathering Louie Giglio recounted the history of Hagar from Genesis 16 in the Bible. Betrayed by those closest to her, Hagar stumbled into the wilderness, alone, abandoned, completely without hope.
But Jesus.
He came to her in the midst of her despair and led her out of that desert place. Hagar called him, "El roi; the God who - sees - me."
That weekend the friends we were staying with invited us to their church where their pastor surprised us all by teaching from the - very - same - passage! (Just in case we didn't get the msg the first time! Isn't God good?!)
This reminder flooded our souls, renewing our faith that no matter what faced us, the trial and disappointments that left us feeling alone and isolated in our grief...
our God,
El roi,
sees
US.
As I think back on that pivotal time in our lives, I want to encourage you that you are never alone in your hurt, no matter if it is private or public.
Jesus bears witness to every trial and pain you encounter! He carries your griefs and bears your sorrows with you! (Isaiah 53:4-6)
He meets you right where you are.
El roi, the God who - sees - YOU.
Let Jesus lead you out of the desert places.
♡
