I’ve been reflecting on the heart and character of God, one attribute at a time. He gave me a new song months ago, more of an anthem maybe, that declares He is the Father who hears, sees, knows, cares, heals and loves. It’s really repetitive but it usually comes to mind when there’s an instrumental time during worship.

I’ve dug a bit into the Father who hears, and the Father who cares. This week I’ve been remembering Him as the Father who sees.

I am slowly making my way through a book by Christie Purifoy called Placemaker. I say slowly because life. It’s summertime and my kids are at home and work with me and my house somehow has to get cleaned and yes. Life. Seasons. Nighttime is my quiet time but honestly, lately, the last thing I want to do is read.

This book just happened to show up in my Amazon suggested reads one day, and it released on my birthday. And she talks about trees and flowers and blooming. It was meant to be.

So I steal moments here and there to read a page or two and I’m loving what Christie has to say. I can relate to her with all her moves and how they’ve brought her to where she is today (which happens to be Pennsylvania, small world!)… and her husband’s name is Jonathan. Seriously. I can’t make this stuff up.

This quote from Christie is one of my favorites: “Familiarity sometimes breeds indifference, a kind of blindness… Familiarity can also breed disdain. One of the small, good things about certain losses is that they give us eyes to see.” (page 38)

Those losses can make it a little easier to see the One who has seen us all along. A chance to refocus, to fix our eyes once again on the Father who holds us.

“I’m working on your behalf even now. In the tension I hold you. In the waiting I walk with you. Rest here, in green pastures, by streams of living water. In this place of utter safety and comfort. Let me shelter you with the wing of My mighty hand. I see you and hold you. – God” (from Rebekah Lyons)

I find it comforting to know that even when it seems like I’m walking through a valley, even in hard seasons or tough times, God sees me.

At my Grandpa’s graveside funeral… in the dentist chair getting another filling… when we have to terminate a contract on a house we love… I am seen by God the Father.

Even if I don’t see Him, whether I’m distracted or busy or lazy… all I have to do is turn toward Him. The beauty of His grace is that it’s not based on me. I don’t have to do anything earn a look from Him. He’s already there. Waiting, watching, seeing.

Am I looking back at Him?

“For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.” – Proverbs‬ ‭5:21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth — He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.” – Psalm‬ ‭33:13-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬

Sometimes you feel hidden. Life happens. Storms surge, circumstances crumble, trials trouble your soul. People don’t fully see or understand what exactly you’re going through. He does. If you haven’t read it before, I highly recommend Sara Hagerty’s book Unseen. All too often we feel overlooked and hidden when it really can be a blessing in disguise.

But other times, you feel like hiding. That performance-based mindset rears its ugly head, or that thing that hinders and that sin that so easily entangles makes you feel like crawling into a corner to hide. Kind of like Adam and Eve in the garden. Kind of like pregnant Hagar fleeing from Sarai.

Like we could ever hide from this kind Father.

He meets us, in the middle of the messes, whether we made the mess or not. He meets us, and He sees us.

Our El Roi.

“Hagar 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.'” – Genesis‬ ‭16:13‬ ‭

I wonder if we make our time on earth to be like a game of hide-and-seek, when it was never meant to be like that. What if it was meant to be a journey of seek-and-find? His Word says to seek Him first, to draw near to Him, to return to Him, to boldly approach His throne…. that we’ll seek Him and find Him when we seek Him with all our hearts.

When we seek Him, we will see Him. And we will find that all along, He was pursuing us, His gaze fixed on us in unfailing love.

❤

This week’s songs!

• Never Out of Sight by Liberty Church (We are always on His mind, never out of His sight!)
• Now I See by Paul & Hannah McClure (I love the line that says “I saw delight in His eyes when He looked at me“)
• Here Again by Elevation Worship