Part 1: Key Passage
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (ESV) “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Reflection Questions
- Paul describes a “thorn” in his flesh that caused suffering. What is a “thorn” in your life right now (e.g., the pain of abandonment)?
- How does it make you feel weak or vulnerable? In verse 9, God tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” What does this promise mean to you in your current situation?
- Paul says he is “content” with “weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities” because of Christ’s power. Write down ways you can choose to find joy or contentment in your suffering, trusting God’s strength.
- How can suffering be a place where God shows His power in your life?
Part 2: God Sees Me – The Story of Hagar
Genesis 16:7-13, “The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, ‘Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?’… The angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction.’… So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are a God of seeing,’ for she said, ‘Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.’”
Hagar was a woman cast aside, mistreated, and abandoned—but not unseen. God met her in her pain and gave her the name El Roi, meaning “The God who sees me.”
Reflection Questions
- In what ways do you relate to Hagar’s experience of abandonment?
- What did God promise Hagar, and how did He show care for her?
- Hagar was abandoned and alone in the wilderness, yet God saw her and met her there. How does knowing that God is “a God of seeing” who looks after you encourage you in your situation?
- The angel told Hagar that God had “listened to [her] affliction.” Write a short prayer sharing your pain with God, trusting that He hears you. Hagar named God “El Roi” (the God who sees).
- How can you remind yourself this week that God sees and cares for you?
Genesis 16:13 — “You are a God of seeing… Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”
Part 3: God’s Tender Care for You
These verses affirm that you are not forgotten—God is your Shepherd, your shelter, your healer. Print these verses out and place this somewhere you can see it. Read it daily and be encouraged that you are not forgotten. God SEES you. He loves you. He cares for you.
| Scripture | What It Says About God’s Care |
|---|---|
| Psalm 23 | The Lord is your Shepherd—He leads, restores, and walks with you through the darkest valley. |
| Psalm 34:18 | “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” |
| Isaiah 41:10 | “Fear not, for I am with you… I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” |
| Matthew 11:28 | Jesus invites you to bring your burdens to Him for rest. |
Homework: Journal + Prayer
1. Journal Prompt
Write a letter to God about the pain you’ve experienced. Then, respond to His love as seen in the scriptures above.
2. Prayer Exercise
- Praise God for being near in your weakness.
- Thank Him for being El Roi, the God who sees you.
- Ask Him to help you rejoice in Him, even now.
- Be determined to walk in constant communion with God today, praying without ceasing, remembering his constant care for you.