And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
Genesis 16:15 (ESV)
Father God, this morning my soul finds great comfort in the life of Hagar. A slave of Sarai, she was given to her mistress’s husband in order to bear a child, and was subsequently mistreated. After running away, You let her know that You see her, see her pain, see his mistreatment, see her suffering. And with the birth of her son, his naming tells me that this goes beyond just Your seeing – You are the God Who hears. You heard what was on her heart, the fears that were beyond the words she spoke. And You gave her the name that the child would be called, reminding her of Who You are every time she saw him (Genesis 16:11).
Lord, thank You for seeing me and hearing me. Yes, I may not be doing things the way that You have intended or following Your plans as scripted to me. But neither was Abram, Sarai, and Hagar, though not by her design. (Funny how I can find myself in that situation too, my fate seemingly in the hands of others.) Yet, You still blessed in spite of them and brought life out of their folly. It is against that hope that I draw my encouragement today, knowing that You are the God Who will cause all things to work out for me (Romans 8:28), never leaving nor forsaking me (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Father, I am going to make mistakes today. I’m not, as some say, speaking this into existence. I’m just confessing the reality of my life! I may even find myself on the wrong end of situation. But as I wander into that desolate place, send Your springs of water to refresh me and Your words of encouragement to strengthen me, reminding me of Your precious promises to me, even as You did for Hagar (Genesis 21:8-20). Continue to remind me that none of this is by chance, but instead part of the unveiling of Your hidden will for my life. Nothing comes my way except if first passes through Your loving hands. Give my soul the comfort and peace that I long for in this truth. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.