He Sees You

swimduci

Before becoming a mom, I assumed mothers exaggerated how many times they heard the exclamation each day. I even remember having to force my jaw shut when they would ignore such a plea.

Now that I’m privileged to be put to the test, I see clearly why some would wait until they heard the “magic word.”

“Mom, look at me, pleeeeease!”

It takes going through it to realize how much energy it takes. To fully experience how hard it is to look on with excitement and portray what they’re doing as new. unique. special. Each and every day.

We really do change little over time, don’t we. We may grow up, but we never grow out of the desire to be seen. We all ache to be known for who we are and what we’re capable of.

My words may no longer say it, but my heart pleads otherwise.

“Someone, anyone, look at me! Do you really see me?”

The other day, when the morning rays were warming my face, I was reminded:

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when Iā€™m far away.
You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Psalm 139:1-5

God knows our desire to be seen. In fact, He implanted the ache within us, knowing He’d be the only one to meet that need fully.

I’ve become captivated by the Names of God lately. And I like to think the name “El Roi” was introduced early on because He knew how much we needed it.

El Roi: The God Who Sees Me.

After reading Hagar’s story, and hearing her exclaim the very desire of my heart in Genesis 16:13, I can know I’m not alone. And I can claim the truth scattered throughout God’s Word proving it’s validity.

  • God pays attention to the details around us. (Matt. 6:26; Matt. 10:29)
  • He can tell us how many hairs are on our head at any given moment. (Luke 12:7)
  • He designed our intricate characteristics that make us…us. (Jeremiah 1:5)
  • He knows what we need before we even ask for it. (Matthew 6:8)

Friend, There’s no doubt about it, He knows you. Broken, scarred, hurting, lonely, busy, happy, beautiful you.

He sees you. (Proverbs 24:12)
And He loves you anyway. Regardless.

What gets me most, is He’ll always look when we ask like it’s the very first time. New every morning. (Lam. 3:21-24)

He never grows tired of watching. He’s the Perfect Parent. Our Steadfast Shepherd.

Today, my lips curl upwards when I hear the familiar plea. As I look into the sparkle of my 4 year-old’s blue eyes, I can’t help but thank God for this opportunity to catch a glimpse of how much He loves me. And as I watch my son show me his new dance moves, my heart warms in worship.

Father, there You are. Right here in my living room. Thank You for seeing me. For looking when I call. For truly getting me and loving me regardless…Yes, Lord…I see You, too.

24 Responses to He Sees You
  1. Mia
    January 8, 2013 | 2:33 am

    Dearest Nikki
    This is now just who you are …beautifully in love with your Lord. Thank you, dear one, as always you hit the nail right on the head. Yes, He is the perfect parent.
    Much love XX
    Mia

    • Nikki
      January 8, 2013 | 2:41 pm

      Thank you so much, Mia. You read my heart so well. Love and hugs to you!

  2. Mandy
    January 8, 2013 | 9:05 am

    Nikki, you know how dear this truth is to my heart. Praise God for meeting our deepest needs…seeing us each time as though it is the first time…providing people who see us too, giving us a glimpse of how He does. Reminding us how He does. Thank you!

    • Nikki
      January 8, 2013 | 2:42 pm

      He really does pursue us, doesn’t He. May we never get over it, Mandy.
      And you’re right–He even gives us the tangible…people who see us, too. You being one of mine! So blessed by you. {HUGS} Thank you for seeing me!

  3. Susan Stilwell
    January 8, 2013 | 11:27 am

    Beautiful, Nikki. El Roi is one of my favorite names too. Such a comfort to know that His eye is always on us, especially when we feel invisible to the world.

    • Nikki
      January 8, 2013 | 2:44 pm

      It should help us keep our eyes fixed on Him, when we feel He is the only one who sees us. Don’t you think? Striving to make sure I see Him, too… Thanks for stopping by, Susan!

  4. Joy Wombles
    January 8, 2013 | 11:53 am

    El Roi, the God who sees me and knows me and wants and intimate relationship with me. He loves me not for what I can be but for whom I am in Him. Oh what a blessing! Praising Him with you today.
    Joy

    • Nikki
      January 8, 2013 | 2:45 pm

      Amen, Joy. Praising Him with you today! So glad I don’t have to prove anything…just receive everything. Love and hugs to you!

  5. ~Karrilee~
    January 8, 2013 | 12:25 pm

    Beautiful! And in keeping with – well – the way we are… this post reminded me of a song… I could hear it as I read your words and my spirit sang it out boldly! So thankful it is true! Enjoy a little Steffany Frizzell (Gretzinger) from Bethel singing “You Know Me” http://youtu.be/cVVlMQved8k

    Love you sweet Nikki! Thankful for how often He speaks to me through you, my friend!
    ~K~

    • Nikki
      January 8, 2013 | 2:47 pm

      Kindred sister, YES! I LOVE that song! I’ve written a post about it yet to publish because it’s still resonating. Thank you for this blessing today, friend! thank you for seeing me and encouraging me along. Hugs to you!

  6. Faith
    January 8, 2013 | 1:28 pm

    When I was going through my darkest days with my son on the autism spectrum, I would find myself praying over and over again “God, do you see me? Do you really see me?” I could never understand why that was my prayer when “Help me!” would have been much more logical. I always knew He saw me, but now I know I wanted him to see inside me. To see the hurt, anger, and sheer exhaustion. To see why I acted the way I did. To see how extremely empty I was. Thanks, Nikki, for reminding me of that time and that He did see me in my darkest days. And now on the other side, I can see Him and how He worked during that time in me. I am so amazed at how gentle and beautiful He is!

    • Nikki
      January 8, 2013 | 2:50 pm

      Faith, it’s a good thing we’re not on the phone talking about this right now, because I would be a blubbery mess!
      Oh hindsight…what a hidden blessing. A tool to grow our faith and truly see.

      Praying you see the way He pursues you today and am praising with you for His relentless love and grace!

      thank you for stopping by and sharing with me!

  7. Tina Gibbs
    January 8, 2013 | 5:37 pm

    Nikki,
    So true, so true! I experienced His true amazing ovesight last March as we were in Nigeria exploring a ministry opportunity. Robbers at the side of the road are shooting at us with an AK-47 and we are in a Diesel Toyota Mini Van trying to outrun them. They shot through the radiator, which eventually stopped our vehicle at the side of a remote road, not knowing if we had people coming after us. 3 of us were bleeding. All that I could think of is, “God, you see us, you know we are in a position that only YOU can get us through. Lord, protect us. We are sitting ducks on this road. Well, the robbers didn’t follow after us. We made it to a hospital, also had help from a field office of ours close by. I will never forget the feeling of TOTALLY putting your whole self into His almighty, all-seeing hands. We had one man with glass and shrapnal wounds in his thigh and forehead, the Nigerian driver had the tendons in his driving hand cut by a bullet, and I received a bullet through my thigh. We have all healed and KNOW that HE sees us~always!

    • Nikki
      January 8, 2013 | 10:29 pm

      Wow, Tina! I can’t even imagine and yet am so encouraged by how you saw Him through it all. What a testimony! To God be the glory. Thank you for sharing it here.

      All for Him with hugs to you,
      Nikki

  8. Missy
    January 8, 2013 | 6:49 pm

    Oh Nikki, you’ve touched on a yearning so many in this culture of “get your 15 minutes of fame” seem to have. Reading this reminder is like a sweet little knock on our hearts to remember that the antidote to that yearning is Always Here and Always Looking. Thank you for reminding us that we have The God who sees. And who loves us anyway.

    • Nikki
      January 8, 2013 | 10:31 pm

      Thank you, Missy (MISSY!)
      May we never get over that, friend…He loves us anyway… always.
      you’ve encouraged my heart today, thank you!

  9. Dolly
    January 9, 2013 | 12:09 am

    What a great insight you had about how He placed that desire in us, and He is the only perfect Parent…and you are a loving parent to your son…what a gift you are giving Him when you see him, really see him, and I know that you do…hugs to you, Nikki…sent you a DM šŸ™‚

    • Nikki
      January 9, 2013 | 12:01 pm

      You are too kind, Dolly. Thank you! Striving to make those days I truly see Him closer together… Love and hugs to you! (and I’ll respond to your DM, thank you!)

  10. Leah
    January 9, 2013 | 11:34 am

    Yes, motherhood should be likened unto “seminary” because it is there that we learn so much about what God is really like in terms of relationships.
    Its interesting that you mentioned El Roi. It was just a year ago now that the Scripture and my Spurgeon devo. reading where this name of God is mentioned grabbed me and revealed to me how I have been seeing it backwards when I pray first “God I want to see you”. We first need to offer praise that “He sees us”.
    I usually never plug myself so blatantly but if you would be interested here is the link to my post about El Roi: http://manyslices.typepad.com/many-slices-the-layers-o/a-slice-of-spurgeon/

    I Have been toying with the idea of possibly putting myself out there to be a contributor for 5 minutes of Faith. Do you happen to know if they are seeking any new contributors?
    Thanks and Cheers,
    Leah

  11. Leah
    January 9, 2013 | 11:47 am

    Yes, motherhood should be likened unto “seminary” because this is the place where we learn so much about God in terms of relationship (and no learning of Greek needed!). It is interesting that you mentioned El Roi. It was almost a year ago that in my own Bible reading and Spurgeon devotional that I came across the inspiration for His name being used with this word. It was a dramatic shift in that I realized that when I prayed, as I often had since childhood: “God I want to see you” that I rather I should be starting with praise of “God you see me”.
    I usually do not so blatantly plug myself, but if you would be interested in reading my post of El Roi it is the top post in my “slice of Spurgeon” category. {all my categories are on the top left margin of my home page}.
    Also I have been playing around with the idea of putting myself out there to be a contributor for 5 minutes of Faith. Do you happen to know if they are currently looking for any new contributors?
    Thanks and Cheers,
    Leah

    • Nikki
      January 9, 2013 | 12:32 pm

      Leah,
      Thank you so much for taking the time to make sure I got your comment!
      And so true–what a hidden blessing this parenting gig brought. allowing us to see with more childlike eyes and NEED to bring back our childlike faith. Something seminary could never teach us! šŸ˜‰

      I’m heading over right now to read your post. thank you. And I haven’t heard of an opening for 5MF, but you could always contact the editor, Barbie (listed in the sidebar) to confirm.

      All for Him with hugs to you,
      Nikki

  12. Leah
    January 9, 2013 | 11:48 am

    so sorry for the double submit! My little one hit something and I thought the first one got lost!!

  13. shannon
    January 11, 2013 | 10:12 pm

    I have a book of the names of the Lord that sits on my nightstand. the only one I can remember most times when I counsel students is “El Roi” I think the reason I remember it is because we all NEED TO KNOW HE SEES US!
    great post dear one!

    • Nikki
      January 13, 2013 | 4:12 pm

      I love that, Shannon…and I hope you whisper to those students over and over…He sees you…He sees you…He sees you:) Sweet friend, I love you much!