When we experience unbearable sorrow and grief, we normally try to pour out our sorrow by sharing it with someone dear and near to us. But when there is no one to share or give a listening ear, what do we do? We grieve over our sitution in silence though we try to outwardly put on a brave front. This Wednesday morning our thought for reflection is, "Our God Sees Our Tears And Hears Our Cry Even When Others Ignore Them".
"When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy due." And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob. GOD HEARD THE BOY CRYING..."
(Genesis 21:15-17).
Hagar's situation is really very pathetic. Abraham sent away Hagar and her son with some food and some water without even thinking what they would do when the little food and little water were used (Genesis 21:14). Further, Hagar and Ishmael were in the wilderness, where there was no one to assist them.
1. Hagar faced a dead end.
The Bible says,
"When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes". Then she went off and sat down nearby..."
(Genesis 21:15,16a).
That reveals that Hagar realized that there was nothing else she could do than to sit down, helpless. Are we going through a situation that is like a dead end and we feel helpless?
2. Hagar almost faced the death of her son.
The writer of Genesis gives words to Hagar's sorrowful thoughts:
..for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob
(Genesis 21:16b).
Are we facing some serious loss or pain that we do not know what to do next and we are just sobbing like Hagar?
How soothing and comforting are the words
"God heard the boy crying"..!
(Genesis 21:17a).
Do not those words reveal that even when no one else is there to see and help us when we go through a sorrowful situation, God will? David said,
"In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears"
(Psalms 18:6).
Even as we begin a new day, let us keep our eyes fixed on our God, who sees our tears and hears our cry. Others may ignore us but not our God.
Blessed day!