El Roi, God Sees

El Roi, the God who sees

Our Father hears, knows and sees our distress. He not only sees what concerns us, but He cares about our concerns. He allows heartache, to mold and shape us. However, while we are going through what feels like anguish, we are never alone. In John 16:33. Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He has sent His Spirit as a comforter to love us through pain. You’re blessed when you are totally dependent on your Heavenly Father. He sees and cares about you.

This passage is called the Be-attitudes taken from Jesus’ sermon on the mountainside.

3 You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule. 4 You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 You’re blessed when you are content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. 6 You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. 7 You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care–full,’ you find yourselves cared for. 8 You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. 9 You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. 10 You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

Matthew 5:3-10 (MSG)

V3. “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule.” We are fortunate when we give our frustrations over to God. “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) The more agitated we become because of a disordered life the more our lives feel out of control; especially when there are multiple variables. We cannot control all the confounders, only our response. Unless we give Jesus control, self-control becomes a test of our will. We will rarely achieve willful success.

V4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” Every individual has a distinctive relationship with the deceased, therefore grieves differently. No human can understand the grief felt; the void when a loved one is gone after sharing a lifetime. Our Heavenly Father is the only one who truly understands and not only understands, He is the only one that can provide comfort 24 hours every day. Whatever your sorrow, there is only one that can provide the comfort needed; therefore, God’s Spirit is, “comforter”. Jesus said in John 14:16-17 (NIV) “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever, 17 the Spirit of truth…”

V5 “You’re blessed when you are content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.” Money can not buy happiness. Everything perishable on earth represents temporary contentment. Paul said in Philippians 12-13 (NIV) “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Trust in God’s strength. Where we are weak, we are strong in Christ. 

V6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.”  We are blessed when we desire God above all else. When we are facing a trial in which only God can help; we seek Him at a different level. The desperation causes us to hunger and thirst for His mercy and kindness. When He is the only one that can fill the void, we become more grateful that His presence is always available to comfort and care for us; to strengthen our hearts and souls.

V7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care–full,’ you find yourselves cared for.” Care givers have the most difficult task; many emotions are involved when family cares for a loved one. First and foremost, the desire to care for your loved one in perfection. This thought process is problematic. No human is perfect and cannot possibly manage the task in perfection 24/7/365. Jesus knows and sees; That the care giver needs care. The caregiver must access resources, grief counseling, and most of all the care of our Heavenly Father. Grief counseling because both people are grieving loss, the independence of the person requiring care, as well as, the caregiver is grieving the loss of the relationship that has taken a drastic shift.

V8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.” Blessed are we who view ourselves through the eyes of our creator. Keeping our minds and hearts on God and His plan for our lives, we reject anxiety. Isaiah 2:3, (NIV) “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” How are we to keep our minds stayed on Jesus? His word (the Bible) gives us all the information we need to know about how much Jesus values us; the Bible is called His love letter. When we know how blessed we are with the love and forgiveness of Christ, we will devalue others’ opinions and avoid imposing our opinions on others. 

V9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.” People compete and compare, most times subconsciously. We give our souls away when we compare our lives with others. The most effective way to show someone how not to compete or compare is to not participate in the madness. Give others permission to exhort themselves. Avoid confrontation and remain as humble as Jesus. We know God’s opinion of us, Psalm 139:14 (NIV) “I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” We are perfect in His sight. 

V10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.” When we submit to God in ways others may not understand, this can cause people to condemn our behavior. The only peace found will be in God and His Word. We find shelter under His shadow. Psalm 91:1 (MSG) 1 “You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, 2 Say this: ‘God, You are my refuge. I trust in you and I am safe’!” 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NIV) “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” He has given us Christ, eternal, both now in this world and eternal in Heaven. We have power, strength, love and “Shalom, Shalom”, perfect peace. Twice as nice, said twice.