By Melissa McLaughlin
Be Seen
The billboard slogan contained only two words: “Be Seen.” Â What were they advertising? A medical practice. Brilliant! They sold me! When calling for an appointment, it can be days, weeks or months before I can be seen by a doctor. I realize that medical offices are often understaffed and overworked, so this situation is beyond their control. But this reality prompted a very effective ad campaign. “Be Seen.”
We have a deep need to “Be Seen”. When someone cares enough to stop what they are doing to watch us, meet with us, listen to us, spend time with us, we know that we matter to them. There is a real soul-rest in this.
One of my great joys as a parent has been watching my kids. My husband and I watched them take swim lessons and sing in the children’s choir at church. We watched our girls perform in gymnastics expositions. We watched our son earn belts in karate and shouted for him at the track and wrestling matches. We cheered as they all performed in various band concerts, marching band competitions, played basketball and rugby. We were deeply blessed to see each of our kids play their musical instruments at church during worship services. What a simple but deep joy to watch the ones you love.
It always stirred my heart as a mom when my kids looked for me in the crowd. Though there were many students performing or playing, there were three kids who mattered most to me. As if a giant movie camera filming a big scene zoomed in on the main characters, my eyes were glued on them. My kids were the main characters in my show.
Likewise, each one of us is uniquely special to God. A parent’s love is only a glimpse of God’s great love for us. He created every one of us. We were each made in His image and we are precious in His sight. Though there are billions of people living on this earth, because He is God, He can zoom in on us, one by one. He is watching. He is cheering. He is longing for us to be known by Him and know that we are seen and loved by Him.
How can we know that we are seen by God? Here are two ways.
1.We can see that God is indeed watching when we read through God’s history with humankind, as recorded in the Bible.
One memorable example is the story of Hagar in Genesis 16. Hagar, was an Egyptian slave to Sarai, the wife of Abram, who was cast away by Sarai out of jealousy. Alone in the desert, God sent an angel of the Lord to speak to her. Hagar’s profound response is recorded here in Genesis 16:13 – 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.” God heard Hagar’s cry and sent a messenger to let her know she was not alone. “The God who sees me”. A heartfelt label of love.
This is just one of myriad people who cried out to the Lord and received a special touch from the Living God. These testimonies of God’s hand at work in people’s lives remind us of God’s attentive love and unfailing care for His people. It is important to note that God does not always remove the difficulties, but does provide a sense of His presence with us.
2.We can also see that God is watching by recalling God’s history in our own lives.
One of my first memories of answered prayer was as a young child, around age 6 or 7. Somehow, I became aware of the 10 Commandments and in my child’s heart knew that I wanted to please God and live according to His ways. But I didn’t know the 10 Commandments. Why didn’t I ask my parents? I have no idea.
In the secret places of my child’s heart I prayed and asked God to teach me or show me the 10 Commandments, so I could follow Him. That very next Sunday, in my Sunday School class, the teacher gave each of us a card stock paper foldout resembling two stone tablets. When laid open it was about the size of my two small hands. What was written in the paper foldout? The 10 Commandments.
I gently gathered up this little gift from God and held it close to my heart. The Living God saw me. He heard my small prayer and answered my heart’s desire to know and please Him.
Even now it brings tears to my eyes as I write this. Though insignificant to other people, the memory of this quietly answered prayer from childhood, known only to me, remains a precious treasure in my heart’s keepsake box. God saw me. God heard me. God cared about me and cared to meet my deepest need, to know and love Him.
Do you have Biblical examples of God watching over His people that move your heart?
Do you have answered prayers that linger long in your memory, reminding you of God watching over you?
May we remember that we are seen and loved by the God who gave us life and then through His Son, Jesus, gave us the gift of eternal life. He is the God who sees not only what is happening outwardly, He also looks upon our heart. We are seen and known by God in ways that no one else ever could or ever will.
With God, the Great Physician, we can “Be Seen” for more than just medical care. We “Are Seen” by the One who offers us true healing, soul healing, eternal healing. Best of all? No appointment needed. God is always zoomed in, watching and waiting for us to come to Him.
Psalm 32:8 – I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Proverbs 15:3 – The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
2 Chronicles 16:9a – For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
Additional Resources:
“The God Who Sees” is a short musical film (12 minutes) with a powerful message by Kathie Lee Gifford and Nicole C. Mullen. I invite you to pause and enjoy this video as you reflect on the God who sees you.
From Clay to Heaven – Be Amazed By Your God! By Melissa McLaughlin
I see you my lovely sister!
I see you, dear sister! Best of all, the God of creation and Lord of all, sees us and loves us!
Thank you so much for sharing such very precious words and reminders, Melissa. Jesus keeps speaking these very words to me lately. In the deepest of ways and places, He sees every moment. And He is so gracious to us right there! Thanks for this beautiful confirmation. Love and Blessings to you!
Dear Bettie, I’m welling up with tears reading your words, for I know you are living moment by moment in such deep physical pain. I am humbled that God helped me write words to bring you comfort during this time. I am lifting you in prayer right now as I write. May His peace surround and enfold you. Praying for a lifting of the heaviness of your pain. Please know, your faith shines like the brightest of stars in the night skies. Bless you, dear sister.
Thank you so much Melissa for your dear prayers and encouragement. They truly mean so very much to me! Blessings and love to you today.
I think about the widow who gave “the widows mite” and Jesus saw her and talked about her. Out of all of the people who walked by and put money in, Jesus took notice of her. There is no one who is overlooked by Jesus 🙂
Oh, how I love the story of the widow who gave her last cent/”mite” as an offering to the Lord. A perfect example of Jesus taking notice of the very person who would be overlooked by everyone else. What a beautiful Savior! Thank you for sharing that story!
This is the first of your blogs I’ve received since subscribing and how beautiful it is. I’m looking forward to receiving more in the future (and catching up with the previous ones)
God bless you in his loving care
Hi Jimmy, thank you for taking the time to read my blog and share your feedback here! What a blessing to open up my screen and see your comments! I pray that my small words will be a blessing to you and will help to clarify and magnify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! God bless and keep you, brother!
Tears come to my eyes when I think how He always sees me. He never turns His back on me. His love and mercy are forever.
Oh, I share your heartfelt response, Melissa. To think that the God who placed all the planets in the universe would notice and care about me, send His own Son to die for me, mercy upon mercy. I am undone.
Wonderful post Melissa. I look forward each week to feel uplifted. It is amazing to think that Jehovah El Roi sees me. The One who created the stars watches me like you watched your children. We are blessed
The “Be Seen” billboard was absolutely brilliant! Sweet memories of you watching your kids…how they were seen by you and your husband. And I love your analogy to how God sees us. The story of Hagar is one of my favorite stories and I have written and blogged about it as well. It’s so comforting to know when we come to Christ, heaven’s billboard is flashing, “Be Seen.” And so we are! He’s the God who sees me. And like, Hagar, He finds us in our wilderness to care for us and speak to us. This post also reminds me of my life verse, 2 Chronicles 16:9, For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth, to support those whose hearts are completely his!
Karen, I love your comment “when we come to Christ, heaven’s billboard is flashing “Be Seen.” And so we are!” Though “being seen” is a simple thought, it runs deep in our souls. To know and be known is our great need and ultimately only Jesus can fulfill this need completely. I agree with you, the story of Hagar captures my heart, as she was never forgotten by God. What a loving Abba Father, keeping watch over us always, even when no one else can spare us a second glance. In keeping with this, your life verse is a powerful one. Jesus, we give our hearts to you again and again, for you are watching and helping us as we do!
Oh, if we were never seen by God, if He were a god we needed to appease before we are acknowledged. Where would we be? This is such a simple truth, yet so profound, Melissa. And I love the smaller Bible stories that may seem insignificant, but enrich us with more knowledge of God. Of course, one of the stories that comes to mind happens to be a big one: Joseph. God watched over him and directed the events around his circumstances all the way to his high position, and for good reason. It’s so good to think about how God sees us. Thank you for pointing our hearts to this.
I was just reminded today of the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness and all He has done to encourage us in our daily struggles and pain. Great is His faithfulness, and praise Him that He sees us and still desires to be in relationship with us!
Thank you for this I have gone through the times of being overlooked not seen ðŸ™ðŸ™ bless you
Dear Ina, thank you for reading and sharing your heart. I have felt overlooked many times, as well. It is such a comfort to know that when no one else sees us, God does and we are precious to Him. God bless you, sister!