by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
There are moments we don’t realize are sacred until later. We stand in them casually, unaware that heaven is moving, that prayers are being stored, and that God is already preparing us for something we cannot yet see.
I have been thinking about one of those moments this week.
It was simple. Three women stood together in a room, hands held, heads bowed in prayer. A young girl sat between them, preparing for what was ahead in her life. In the background, a child’s drawing hung quietly on the wall—unnoticed at the time, but full of meaning now.
Nothing about that moment seemed extraordinary.
Until it was because what we did not know then was what was coming.
The God Who Sees Before We Understand
In Genesis 16, Hagar finds herself in a place she did not choose. She is overwhelmed, displaced, and alone in the wilderness. Yet, Scripture tells us:
“The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness” (Genesis 16:7, ESV).
He found her.
Not after she figured things out.
Not after things settled down.
But right in the middle of her confusion.
And in response, Hagar does something remarkable:
“You are a God of seeing… Truly here I have seen him who looks after me” (Genesis 16:13, ESV).
She names Him El Roi—the God who sees.
Seen Before the Wilderness, Seen Within It
What I am learning is that God does not begin seeing us when the wilderness begins.
He has already seen.
He sees:
- before the diagnosis
- before the loss
- before the phone call
- before the moment that changes everything
- before the tragedy
- before the miracle
Often, He is already moving through people, through prayer, and through quiet acts of faithfulness long before we understand why.
That moment of prayer I mentioned?
It was not just a moment. It was preparation.
The Well Was Already There
In Genesis 21, Hagar finds herself in the wilderness again—this time with her son. She reaches a place of desperation, unable to see a way forward.
And then Scripture says:
“Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water” (Genesis 21:19, ESV).
The well was already there.
She just could not see it yet.
What We Cannot See, God Has Already Prepared
There are seasons when life feels uncertain, heavy, and unresolved. We may feel unseen in places we expected to be known. We may feel like we are walking through something we did not choose.
But the truth remains steady:
God sees.
He sees the prayers that were prayed before the storm ever came, and He sees the relationships He placed in our lives for support. He sees the strength we do not yet recognize in ourselves.
And He sees the well even when we don’t.
A Personal Reflection
This week, I have been reminded that not every sacred moment announces itself. Some look like ordinary days; some look like quiet prayers. Some look like standing in a room with people you love, unaware that God is already weaving something far beyond what you can see. Sometimes, those same people will later find themselves in a wilderness they never expected.
But they are not alone because the God who saw them then…
Still sees them now.
To be continued…
The Invitation
What if the place you feel most unseen
is the very place where God is most attentive?
What if the prayers you thought were simple
were actually preparation?
What if the well is already there?
💛 The God who sees you has not missed a single moment—before, within, or beyond the wilderness.
Reflection
Where in your life do you feel unseen right now? Can you trust that God sees you there—and has already begun to provide what you need?
Prayer
Lord,
You are El Roi, the God who sees. You see me in the places that feel uncertain, and You see me in the places that feel unseen by others. Thank You for never overlooking me, even when I feel forgotten. Open my eyes to the wells You have already placed around me. Help me to trust You before I understand what You are doing. Strengthen my faith in the waiting, and remind me that You are present in every moment—before, during, and after the wilderness.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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