When Life Is HardSample

Day 1 – God is Near in Hardship

Story: Hagar in the wilderness (Genesis 16:7-13)

Life has a way of pressing in on us until we feel crushed. Sometimes it comes from circumstances we didn’t choose: loss, rejection, betrayal, or fear of the unknown. Other times it comes from our own mistakes and regrets. In those moments, we often ask whether God even sees me. Does He care?

Hagar, Sarah’s servant, asked that very question. After being mistreated, she fled into the wilderness with no plan, no security, and no hope. Alone in her pain, she sat down by a spring of water. There, the angel of the Lord met her, reminding her she was not forgotten. God spoke into her distress, promised her a future, and gave her hope. Hagar responded by naming the Lord El Roi, “the God who sees me.”

This truth carries forward into the promises of Scripture. Psalm 34 declares that “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) echoes God’s words to His people: “Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen and help you and uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

When life is hard, our first instinct may be to assume God is far away. Yet the opposite is true: God is closest to us when we are most broken. He does not look at us from a distance, shaking His head at our weakness. He draws near, holds us up, and whispers courage into our souls.

Hardship may not disappear overnight, and the wilderness may still stretch long before us, but we can walk through it knowing we are not abandoned. Like Hagar, we can confidently declare: “You are the God who sees me.”

Reflection Question:

Do you believe God sees you in it when you think about the hardest thing you’re facing right now? How might your perspective change if you lived as if His presence were beside you?

Invitation to Prayer:

Spend time today in quiet prayer, telling God honestly where life feels heavy and overwhelming. Invite Him to show you that He is near and to remind you that He sees you fully.