Settling in to watch a movie, I stumbled onto “Runaway Bride.” In the opening scene, Maggie Carpenter, played by Julia Roberts, rides a beautiful horse across the open countryside dressed in a wedding gown. Maggie is famous for leaving three grooms at the altar. Travelling to her small town to report on this unbelievable story, Ike Graham, played by Richard Gere, uncovers her tendency to adopt the personalities and interests of her fiancés. Her insecurities keep her from discovering the person she really is, and so she runs.

While the movie has many humorous twists and turns, a scene that captured my attention was the scene between Ike and his ex-wife, Ellie. After weeks of looking beneath the surface of Maggie’s life, Ike did some soul searching of his own. For the first time, he wondered what led to his divorce with Ellie. One evening as they sat together at the piano, he asked “Was it just that I didn’t see you?” Amazed, she responded, “Yes, Ike, you didn’t see me.”

Have you ever felt unseen? Have the burdens crushing your heart gone unnoticed? You are not alone.

For most of her life, Hagar, Sarai’s servant, was not seen. Yet, because Sarai was barren, Hagar was given in marriage to Abram with the hopes of bearing his child. Hagar was noticed and now she had a place. Quickly blessed with a child, Hagar, in her arrogance, became disrespectful to Sarai. Given Abram’s permission to manage the situation, Sarai chose to mistreat Hagar. Sarai’s mistreatment of her was so severe, Hagar ran for her life. While she once felt noticed and important, now she felt alone, uncertain, and unseen.

Not knowing where to turn, Hagar fled through the desert on her way back to Egypt until she was found by The angel of the Lord. By a spring of water, He called her by name and listened to her hurt. He instructed her to return to Sarai and submit to her, even though mistreatment would follow. With the instruction also came a promise. She would bear a son and call him, Ishmael. Though he would be like a wild donkey and live a life at odds with people, through Ishmael, Hagar would have more descendants than could be counted. With His words, Hagar knew she had been seen.

“She 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 NIV)

Returning home to Abram and Sarai, the promise of the angel of the Lord rang true as Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, meaning “God hears.”

Years down the road, God saw Hagar again when crisis followed crisis, making her again feel unseen. After Hagar and Ishmael were forced to leave their home, they soon ran out of water. In anguish, Hagar waited at a distance from the bush where she laid her son, knowing his death was near. Ishmael was fading fast, yet God is the God who sees. He found them in the wilderness. He reminded Hagar of His promises, met their needs for water, and walked with them through their wilderness life.

In reality, Hagar had never been lost or alone. God always saw her and met her in her greatest needs. Though she could not see Him, God assured her He saw her. He lovingly guided her back to His plan and secured her future with His promises.

Do you find yourself in the wilderness? Are you wondering if anyone sees your hurt or pain? Know that God sees you. He assures you with His promises as He did Jacob in a time when he felt unseen.

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”” (Genesis 28:15-16 NIV)

We all want to be seen. We want to know someone cares about what we are facing. Even if those around you are unaware of what is going on in your heart, know with a certainty that God does see you. His presence is with you even when you are not aware of it. He knows what you are facing and is in the quiet places working out His plan for you. Remember His promises and seek Him. As you seek Him, you will be found.