El Roi, The God Who Sees

If there is one desire we all share, it is the desire to be seen. We want someone to look into, recognize, and appreciate who we are. There are many different ways we attempt to fulfill this desire. Sometimes we try to stand out. We want to do something noteworthy. We want the good in us to be acknowledged. Because of that, we live a life of performance, always seeking to do more and be better. Other times, trying to be seen is more subtle. We focus on fitting in. We don’t want to be passed over as unappealing or disagreeable. Because of that, we vary our speech and clothing to match certain people and may even bend our beliefs to avoid seeming offensive. In the other extreme of this same problem, we purposely expose our weaknesses in order to appear more relatable and “real.” I know this from personal experience. At times, I have felt like my life would be more meaningful if someone would only recognize me as funny, smart, kind, or in some way exceptional. But that sort of thinking only set me up for an endless endeavor to prove myself. I found myself trying to hide the parts of me that I thought others would not appreciate and promote the rest, even when it was unnatural. At best, this made me feel seen and acknowledged for a time or for a particular strength, but then I would be striving again to prove myself another way. In the worst of it, I was distorting who God made me to be by forcefully amplifying certain aspects of my character. I was diminishing the good I might have naturally contributed to the world in my attempt to cram it down everyone’s throat, unnaturally inflating myself in order to be seen. Although wanting to be seen is a natural desire, it will never be fully satisfied by other people. They are not able to provide the personal knowledge, attention, and appreciation we crave. Proverbs 25:29 says it best. “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe” (ESV). If we live our lives trying to be seen by men and fearing what they will think of us, we will be caught in a trap of anxiety, exhaustion, and ultimate failure. Even when we do succeed at making someone admire us, the pressure of keeping up that successful persona is an impossible weight to carry. We must stop walking on the tightrope of human approval and look instead to God. Only He can provide the safety, security, and ultimate peace of being truly seen. Genesis 16 tells the story of a slave named Hagar who declares a new name for the Lord: El Roi, “the God who sees me.” When Hagar ran away after being mistreated, the Lord went to speak with her. He told her to go back to her mistress, Sarai, and promised to give her more descendants than she could count. He met her in her place of need, giving her specific direction and comfort. He saw her and looked after her when others would not. That is what He does for us as well. It is simply who He is. El Roi, “the God who sees.” It can sometimes feel like God’s care for us isn’t enough, like we have to compensate by getting others to like us as well. But this feeling usually comes from underestimating who God is or improperly valuing His approval. The gifts of being truly seen by others and obtaining their affection are good things to rejoice in. That is what makes close relationships so special; you see and appreciate each other for who you truly are. But this human affirmation is not necessary for contentment nor is it the source of our greatest, most satisfying joy. Humans are fallible. God is not. The reward of human approval is fleeting. God’s reward is everlasting. Even the humans closest to us may never see, understand, or appreciate everything about us. God is our perfect Father who made and designed us. He knows all there is to know, delighting in the good that He put inside us and eagerly extending love and forgiveness when we fall short. In Matthew 6:5-6, Jesus says, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (ESV, emphasis added). We aren’t meant to live a life of trying to be seen by others. We are meant to find contentment in being seen by God. Having this kind of heart requires persistent humility. This means continually letting go of your need to be acknowledged and giving up your own attempts to make things happen, to make yourself seen. It isn’t easy to stop looking for recognition, but when you do, you will find that God already sees and acknowledges you. He knows you in and out. He promises to care for you and reward you. You can depend on Him. So, all of those anxieties that are caused by your never-ending attempt to be seen? You can release those. God has already seen every flaw that you try to hide and every strength that you want recognized. He smiles at you and takes pleasure in the good He instilled in you. God sees you. He is enough. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV). The Blunt (Brace Yourself) As Christians, we need to stop acting like needy toddlers who live unattended and who would do anything to be noticed. God already sees and takes care of us. Hold on to that truth.