Devotionals for the Heart: God sees you and understands your deep pain

From Tears to Hope: Embracing the God Who Sees
A devotional by Patti Schultz, Ed.D.

Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”—Genesis 16:13 (NKJV)

In the throes of deep suffering and quiet despair, a woman named Hagar came face to face with El Roi. He is described in Genesis 16:13 as “the God Who Sees”.

God noticed her pain, her tears, and her silent heartbreak. He offered her gentle comfort and renewed hope even when she felt abandoned and invisible. Just as He compassionately saw the woman in the Bible, God sees you. He notices every ache in your body, every tear streaming down your face, and every prayer in your heart.

I understand what it feels like to be unseen in the throes your own profound pain. Over the course of a decade, I endured the heartbreaking loss of nearly a dozen precious babies at various stages of pregnancy. Each loss shattered my heart and left me feeling fragile and vulnerable. During those times, I watched the people who I love (friends and family members) celebrate new life as I witnessed their joyful reactions to their positive pregnancy tests. I cried internally while being outwardly happy for them as I saw these expectant mothers prepare nursery decorations. I tried not to focus on the deep pain of my own dreams of motherhood not coming true yet as I received invitations to their baby showers. It often felt as if my grief was too heavy and too silent for others to truly see or understand.

There were moments when I questioned whether God noticed my pain or if He truly cared about my tears. This kind of overwhelming loneliness can feel isolating because it is an ache that words struggle to express. If you are feeling this way now, please know that you are not alone in your suffering. Your grief matters and your heartbreak is seen by a compassionate God who longs to bring comfort and healing to your broken heart.

During these dark and lonely moments, I clung desperately to the truth that El Roi, the God Who Sees, is near, especially in our times of deepest pain. He saw my heartbreak—every tear, every silent cry—when no one else could. His presence was a gentle reassurance that I was not forgotten. His love didn’t diminish because of my suffering; it became a soothing balm to my wounded soul. I learned through tears and trembling that even in my most vulnerable moments, God was holding me tenderly, weeping with me, and whispering promises of hope and renewal. His compassion is greater than any pain we carry. He understands the aches of your heart and longs to wrap you in His comforting embrace.

Take gentle comfort in the beautiful truth that we serve a God who sees us—truly, deeply, compassionately. He understands your grief, your frustration, your hopes, and even your moments of despair. He is not distant or indifferent to your suffering; He is right there with you, walking beside you in your pain. He sees your heartache and the deep sting within your soul, and His love for you is unwavering. In your moments of weakness, He is your strength and in your moments of sorrow, He is your comfort.

You are immensely precious in His sight—cherished beyond measure. God longs to surround you with His comforting love and to fill your heart with renewed hope in the midst of your struggles. He knows the deepest desires of your heart, those quiet hopes and unspoken prayers. Trust in His perfect timing, even when it feels slow or uncertain, and rest in His never-ending love. Believe that His plans for you are filled with purpose and hope, even if they differ from what you may expect or imagine. Hold onto the hope that, in His mercy and grace, He will transform your sorrow into joy, turning your mourning into dancing, and your tears into a testament of His faithfulness.

Remember, just as God saw me in my pain and carried me through those dark valleys in my life story, He sees you too. Nothing about your suffering is hidden from His compassionate gaze. Lean into His promises, cling to His unwavering love, and know that His mercy is new every morning. Your story is still being written by the One who holds all things together. In His perfect time, He will bring beauty from your ashes and joy from your mourning. Be assured that His love for you is unfailing, and His goodness will shine through even the hardest seasons.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, El Roi, the God who sees and understands, we come before You with heavy hearts burdened by infertility for some of us and other types of loss for others. Help us to trust that You see our tears and silent prayers and love us unconditionally. Please comfort us with Your gentle presence, strengthen our faith, and help us to trust in Your perfect timing, even when the journey feels long. May Your peace fill our souls, turning our sorrow into joy, and remind us that we are precious in Your sight, held safely in Your loving hands.

In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

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Song of Reflection #1: “The God Who Sees” by Nicole C. Mullen. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “You Say” by Lauren Daigle | ASL cover by Bee Adams. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “The Blessing” by Kari Jobe | ASL cover by Deaf Millennial Project. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Never Alone” by Barlow Girl. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Every Single Tear” by Scott Krippayne. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “Friend of a Wounded Heart” by Wayne Watson. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “His Strength is Perfect” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Dr. Patti Schultz’s inspiring journey weaves a tapestry of compassion, resilience, and divine hope. 

Formerly a public school principal, professor, teacher, and interpreter for the deaf, she now dedicates her life to a heartfelt ministry rooted in her personal experiences.

As a mother to three miracle boys here on Earth and a member of a heavenly soccer team, Patti’s story is one of unwavering faith and profound love. Her decade-long battle with infertility and recurrent loss fuels her deep compassion for grieving mothers, guiding them toward healing through the comforting embrace of Jesus Christ’s garment.

Patti’s gentle wisdom offers a safe haven for women navigating pain, reminding them they are never alone. Through her ministry, she seeks to envelop grieving mothers in divine comfort, encouraging hope, renewal, and the reassurance that God's love is always near, wrapping them in His compassionate hem as they walk the path to healing.

Living in northern Michigan, she cherishes precious moments with family and community, drawing strength from faith and connection.

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Connect with Patti:
Website: pattischultz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.pattischultz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Patti.Schultz
Email: dr.patti.schultz@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When your idea of "family" is complicated

When the Idea of Christian Family is Complicated
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

We hear it all the time—“Father” God. My “brother” or “sister” in Christ.

Likening our relationships with the divine and each other to family members is a common thing. Jesus used familial terms, as did the apostles Peter and Paul.

For some of us, myself included, this analogy works well. I love the idea that I am a “child of God”, that God is my divine parent, and that in Jesus Christ, because of the power of the Holy Spirit that connects us all, I have Christian brothers and sisters across the globe. It makes me feel valuable and reminds me the connection between us is intimate and personal. Just as if we were one big body, if one of us hurts, we all hurt.

But what if the concept of family is painful for us? What if we had an awful, dysfunctional relationship with our earthly father? What if we experienced abuse at his hands, or if he abandoned the family and we never knew him? How would calling God our “father” feel if this is the case for us?

Or the concept of Christian siblings—what if we have a poor relationship with our family? What if we are estranged from a brother or sister, or they harmed us in some devastating way that we are still struggling to forgive?

Recently on Twitter, a Christian woman commented about how she unfollows anyone who calls her “sister in Christ” because she feels it is inappropriate and harmful. Yet my experience is so different. I genuinely am heartened when someone calls me sister. I have a handful of close Christian male friends, friends I have done ministry and mission work with alongside my husband, who I regularly and joyfully call my “brothers.” Feeling like someone is my sister or my brother is helpful for me because it tears down unhealthy human divisions such as racial, age, or cultural barriers. I know in heaven we’ll all be united, and this is my way of helping “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

And it’s the same with God as father, for me. While I personally think God is so incomprehensible and all-powerful that even ascribing something as basic as gender is a bit like putting God in a box, I still like to think of God as my father. Yes, it’s a human way of looking at it, but Jesus called God his father, and I find it helps me feel closer to God when I call him my father, too.

I loved my earthly father, but I had a complicated relationship with him. He struggled with mental illness and alcoholism, and though he died a Christian, his issues created much pain in our family. Yet when I think of God as “father,” it’s healing for me. God is perfect, the ideal representation of what “father” should represent. He’s the father who never lets us down, never causes pain.

But note one important thing here: all of this is “for me.” See, for me it is healing and helpful to consider God my father and other Christians my brothers and sisters. Yet I know it’s not that way for everyone.

We live in an imperfect world, and other people do let us down, sometimes in horrible, evil ways. When it’s our family, this can have devastating reverberations, sometimes for generations.

Some of us eventually get to the point where we can push aside pain about human family and come to understand and fully appreciate the heavenly family we have instead. But for some of us, that pain is just too raw. We don’t get to that point of acceptance until much, much later in life.

And that’s OK—because God understands.

It’s important to realize our kinship as Christians is far deeper than family ties or family names and roles. Father, brother, sister, mother… those are just titles. The reality is the connection we have through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit lives inside of each of us who believes in and follows Christ. As we’re told in Romans 8:9, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”

It doesn’t matter what label we ascribe to that connection, whether brother or sister or friend, or no word at all. The label doesn’t change the truth, and the truth is that the Holy Spirit lives in and connects each of us to one another, with Christ as our head.

If you are one who has complicated family dynamics and struggles with the concept of God as father or fellow Christians as brothers and sisters, take heart. God knows you and knows why you feel this way. God understands. Perhaps in time, your heart will come to understand the concept of family in a new light.

If you are one who doesn’t have these issues and struggles to understand those who do, I pray you are filled with compassion over the pain some of us have had to experience. We don’t have to understand to love each other and respect each other.

Whether we call ourselves family or not, the reality is that we are one—no matter what label we use.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for all the ways You love us. Help us heal and grow in spite of the issues we face here on earth, and help us love each other well. Enable us to remember the words of Romans 8:28, “That in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” In Your holy name we pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “God’s Family” by Tommy Walker. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning journalist, author, blogger, editor, writing coach, and devotional writer with thousands of articles to her name. 

Since 2010, she has served as the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won 123 journalism awards during her tenure. She is the author of Feed My Sheep: A 40-Day Devotional to Develop a Heart for Hunger Ministry (2019) and More Like Jesus: A Devotional Journey (2018) and the editor of a number of other books from her newspaper’s Advocate Press, which she helped found in 2017.

She has won more than 100 writing awards and is a seasoned speaker and frequent contributor to Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, and BibleStudyTools.com, among many others. She has a weekly faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com and is part of the team at Wholly Loved Ministries, with her work included in many of their devotionals and Bible studies.

Brodie holds a Master of Arts in English, and she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in communications/print journalism from Florida International University. Born and raised in Miami, Brodie now lives in Lexington, South Carolina, just outside Columbia. She has also lived in Ohio and in the mountains of western North Carolina. She and her husband, Matt Brodie, have a blended family of four teenage children and stepchildren.

Brodie has written several novels and is actively seeking publication through her agent Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency. Her novel The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis contest for Contemporary Fiction from American Christian Fiction Writers, and her novel Tangled Roots won a third place Foundation Award in Contemporary Romance at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2019. She is finishing the third in the series, Hidden Seeds, now. 

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Connect with Jessica:
Website: https://www.jessicabrodie.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaJBrodie
Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicajbrodie
Facebook Personal: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaJBrodie
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