There have been a few weeks of matters weighing quite heavily on my mind and my heart. In the midst of looking to the Lord for help and for answers, I will be honest with you to share that I struggled with feeling so discouraged that I just felt … forsaken.
Then, I received a “random” call from a sweet friend. It had been months since we caught up on each other’s lives thanks to the busyness of life. At my request, she filled me in on the latest happenings in her life and we spoke at length about such. As we were getting ready to end our conversation, she suddenly began to speak such incredible words of encouragement over me. She had no idea the thoughts that had been swirling around in my head or what my heart had been wrestling with, but her words affirmed me and reminded me of the Lord’s great love at work in me.
Thank You, Lord.
I wasn’t forgotten. The Lord reminded me of that through my sweet friend’s words.
When reading Genesis 16, we learn about Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant. When Sarah couldn’t conceive, she took Hagar to her husband Abraham and gave her to him resulting in Hagar becoming pregnant. Although it was Sarah’s idea, she began to despise Hagar and mistreated her. There must have been great brokenness in the maidservant’s heart as she decided to run away to the desert.
As Hagar was all alone, I imagine that she struggling with feeling forsaken. But we read how an angel found her and spoke to her. The conversation uplifted her countenance so much that she said, “You are the God who sees me” in verse 13.
Thank You, Lord.
Our circumstances may leave us feeling abandoned and discouraged. But as an ill, bed-ridden friend shared with the poet Civilla Martin: God, her Heavenly Father, was watching over each little sparrow and would certainly watch after her.* Her words were based on Matthew 10:29-31: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Those words inspired the hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow” composed by Charles Gabriel.
Dear Friend, God is watching over each and every one of us. His love and care for us are beyond what we can ever fathom. I am grateful for this boundless love and also, for His sweet reminders when we feel forgotten.
“For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.”
~Joyce
*Info from GodTube
Photo Credit: Arjan Stalpers on Unsplash
