Notes of Faith October 1, 2025
This devotional thought comes from a dear friend who helps in debriefing missionaries when they take a break to rest, restore, and reflect on the work God has given them. They are a blessing to those they serve and to me as well!
Deborah Wise…
I had the opportunity to reflect on the story of Hagar this week, in a Bible study I am part of. The timing was especially poignant, because the questions the angel of the Lord asks her in the desert (Genesis 16:7–8) are at the heart of debriefing:
“Where have you come from, and where are you going?”
Do you notice she answers neither of those questions? Her reply, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” really describes what she is doing at the present moment. God’s questions are past- and future-oriented.
In truth, Hagar was from Egypt, and from the description of the well where God met her, it appears she was on her way back there. It is so human to idealize a place or time in our pasts, and desire to escape there when our present circumstances get hard. I wonder if, in her conversation with God, Hagar began to remember some of the challenges in her old homeland, so that, when God asked her to return to Abram’s household, her heart was a little bit prepared.
A romanticized version of our history can make it harder to be at peace with our present situation. Inevitably we are disappointed if we try to recapture that former “perfect” time or place because 1) it never existed and 2) even if it did, the people and places have changed with the passage of time—and so have we. An honest recalling of the past—including both the good AND the bad—can make the present more bearable and give us hope for the future. As we remember God’s faithfulness through the ups and downs of our story, we are strengthened follow where He leads knowing that He sees, hears, and indeed cares for us.
We play the song below during our debriefing, giving missionaries a chance to reflect on where they’ve come from and where they might be going. I believe you will find it meaningful, as well… It’s written from the perspective of the Israelites upon their exodus from Egypt, but I think it could be Hagar’s song too.
Painting Pictures of Egypt by Sarah Groves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbikUG_go7M
Praying you walk in the presence of the God Who Sees you this week!
There is no hiding and playing peek-a-boo with God. He sees us everywhere we go. He lovingly provides our need in every earthly circumstance and if we come to faith in Jesus and follow Him in obedience, we have the glory of heaven to look forward to, leaving behind the ravages caused by sin in this world. Pray to keep our eyes, heart and mind focused on Jesus that in all suffering of this world we remember that Jesus overcame sin and death for our sake and the glory of His name!
Pastor Dale