Fear Not! A Journey From Fear To Freedom预览

  

God Hears Your Cries

“And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, ‘What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is’” (Gen. 21:17).

Hagar was Sarah’s Egyptian maidservant who bore Abraham’s first child, Ishmael. Sarah got ahead of God and asked Abraham to try to have a child through Hagar since she was barren. Once Hagar conceived, Sarah immediately became jealous and mean-spirited towards her. Then, when Sarah bore Isaac, she told Abraham to send both Hagar and Ishmael away. Reluctantly, Abraham agreed and sent them off on their own in the wilderness with only water and bread. 

Hagar ran out of water, set Ishmael down under a shrub and fully expected them both to die there. God heard Hagar and Ishmael cry out and sent an angel to tell her to fear not. “Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer” (Gen. 21:19–20). 

Hagar was an Egyptian, a foreigner, yet God heard her cries just as he heard the cries of His Israelite children. The good news for us Gentiles is that God does not show partiality. Romans 2:11 says, “For there is no partiality with God.” 

Where are you today? Are you dry and thirsty physically? Emotionally? Spiritually? Cry out to the Lord, and He will meet you where you are. Ask Him to open your eyes and show you where the well is so you can drink and nourish your body, soul, mind, and spirit. 

Sometimes we just need to cry out to the Lord. I can assure you He is fine with this. God heard Hagar and Ishmael’s voices in their despair and immediately met their needs. Peter says in Acts 10:34 (KJV), “that God is no respecter of persons,” which means what He did for Hagar He will do for you. “What ails you, [insert your name here]? Fear not!” 

Prayer: I need You today. Lord, fill my cup to overflowing. Thank You for being impartial. Help me to realize that You love me just as You loved Hagar and Ishmael. Open my spiritual eyes so that I can see that well of spiritual water. Refresh me with Your living water. In Jesus name, amen.