Seeing and Being Seen

“I’m struggling mentally. Please pray for me.” I saw this on twitter the other day and one hundred plus people responded to the individual with some type of encouragement. I scrolled through the responses  “I’m praying.” “Praying that His comfort brings you to His peace.” “I’m so sorry.” “I’m here if you need to talk.” “Advocating now.”

One of my concerns with the pandemic is that we suffer alone. We hide how we really feel from people, out of fear that they’ll judge us in some way. We keep our true feelings from others, hoping we’re putting up a good front. All the while, feeling alone, afraid and isolated.

I love the story of Hagar in the Bible. Hagar was the Egyptian servant of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. In the loneliness and despair of her circumstance, with no one to talk to, God showed up. Hagar knew it was not a mere angel who appeared to her. Hagar proclaimed “You are the God who sees me.” (El Roi) God was personal to Hagar. Dear one, God sees you today and loves you and wants to walk with you through these trying days. Will you let Him? (For more study on Hagar, read Genesis 16)

And we need to see each other too. Not just on facebook, twitter, workplace or one more zoom call, but face to face. We need to be able to look each other in the eye and say to each other “It’s perfectly OK to admit you’re not OK.” or “How are you really doing?”  Our country has experienced a devastating amount of death in these past months and in many ways, we are mourning. We are mourning loss of life, adjusting to our new normal and fear from this pandemic. Honesty matters. We need each other.

What would it look like if every one of us had one or two people in our lives that were our “go to” people? They are the ones we could share our struggles, be honest and not judge. They are the ones we could trust would always pray for us at a moments notice. They are the ones that could hold confidences well. They are the people that SEE you and advocate for you. Who are your one or two people whom you can share your stuff?

Sadly, many people don’t have people like this in their lives. Will you reach out and initiate with some to be that for you? Be willing to give your true self and receive the true self of others. Let your guard down. Draw strength and hope from each other. Weep with those who weep. Rejoice with those who rejoice.

Remember, God sees you, so why hide from Him? Let your guard down and become known by God. Draw strength and hope from Him. Trust Him. Grow with Him. He sees you and will see you through.

“Hardly anything else reveals so well the fear and uncertainty among men as the length to which they will go to hide their true selves from each other and even from their own eyes.” AW Tozer

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.