"What is the matter, Hagar?"

18 June 2012

Jill Briscoe's Just Between Us email devotion on 13 June 2012 entitled  "He Is Your Solution To Every Problem" encouraged me when Victoria returned crying to our room after losing by default to her Viet opponent for not claiming a draw within the last two minutes of their game even though the other girl did not have any pieces left to checkmate Victoria. Jill Briscoe's devotional reminded me that God's hears our children when they cry. I shared it with prayer partners and mums, Ida, Hannah and Maureen. I trust they were as blessed and encouraged by God's Word as I was.

Abraham had sent Hagar and her son Ishmael into the wilderness. It was very hot, and the water they had been given was gone. Hagar left her boy under a bush and, going a little distance away, waited for him to die. She couldn’t watch him suffer.

Then the Bible says, “Hagar cried – and God heard the voice of the lad!” It doesn’t say that God heard Hagar’s voice! “What is the matter, Hagar?” God asked her. “Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there” (Gen. 21:17).

Ishmael didn’t let tears stop him from praying. Hagar did, as we often do! Women, especially, are prone to have a good cry, and sometimes there is relief in being able to do that. But when God has to lean out of heaven and ask, “What is the matter?” it’s time to stop! He will remind us that He is a God who answers prayer. God opened Hagar’s eyes and she saw a well. Then she filled the bottle with water and saved the boy’s life.

Have you ever been so busy crying that you can’t pray? Maybe you need to dry your tears and to hush your voice to listen in expectancy. Our cries can block out the voice of God, and our tears can blind us to the well of water that is right under our nose.

God is waiting to show us the solution to our problems. There will always be a well of living water available to help us cope with our distress. We just need to stop crying long enough to see it and “to fill our skins with it.” Sometimes it takes the simple prayers of a little child to teach us these things!

Lord, thank You for being a God who answers prayer. Thank You for all the times you have answered my prayers – even those I couldn’t see. So many times I walk around carrying a burden that I haven’t even talked to You about. Remind me, again and again, that You are there just waiting for me. You know the answer to every problem, the solution for every concern. Help me to come to You, and then to listen for Your answer – the way to the living water You offer. Amen.