From time to time, Women on Assignment will feature articles from our members who are Pastors, Ministers, and Leaders in their respective churches.

This month's Words of Encouragement is from Marilyn Roberts.

Let God Open Your Eyes

During a conversation with a friend of mine, she shared her fears concerning the upcoming months and her lack of provision. Since Katrina, the subsequent death of her husband and now the loss of her job she felt hopeless.  "Lynn, I'm not at the 11th hour waiting for a miracle, I'm at 11:59. If God doesn't come through for me, it's just a matter of time." How well I knew that feeling. We all have been there in one way or another. Sometimes life gets complicated, frustrating and overwhelming. Health issues, financial issues, social issues; you name them; we all can identify.

Recently I read an article from a well-known evangelist whose wife is suffering from an inoperable brain tumor. Reading his account made me say, "My troubles are so insignificant. This man and his wife are really going through." and I immediately stopped and prayed. He wrote of the pain and suffering his wife is enduring, the anguish his soul feels as he cries out to God and the overwhelming love of the body of Christ who have rallied around them. He wrote of his admiration for his wife who despite long periods of seizures and what seems like endless suffering, clinches her teeth as she whispers defiantly, "By His stripes, I am healed!"

The story of Hagar and Ishmael comes to mind. Banished from the only home they knew, the people they had come to love and the protection and covering of a husband and father, they found themselves in the wilderness with only limited provision. Overcome with emotion when their water ran out, Hagar leaves Ishmael under some bushes and walks away from him not desiring to see him suffer and die. She cries out to God and weeps.

No doubt Hagar was reminded of her first encounter with the angel of the Lord. She was pregnant and the angel told her of Ishmael's future, "And the Angel of the Lord said to her: "Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." 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 16:11-13)

"You are the God Who Sees!" Our enemy would love nothing better than to make us feel that we are alone in this fight. My husband has preached more than once on how easy it is to believe God for something when it's afar off. However, when the pressure of time is upon us, it is then that we have to make a quality decision to stand on the promises of God. Right now you may be thinking, "I know God sees me but I need Him to do something!"

Let's return to the story of Hagar. As she was weeping the angel of the Lord came again to her. "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. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation." (Genesis 21:17)

Now here's the verse I want to get to … Genesis 21:18; "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."

God "opened her eyes and she saw". Hagar saw provision; sustaining provision … a well!

That's what I believe God will do for us. Sometimes circumstances are so overwhelming that to coin a phrase, "We can't see the forest for the trees!" Our answer to life questions may be staring us in the face, but until God opens our eyes to see our well; we remain clueless. I would venture to say that the well spoken of in this story was there all the time.

The same God who sees us will open our eyes and show us the well of financial provision, the well of answers to health problems, relationship difficulties, and the well of life's choices for direction.

The bible records that Hagar gave Ishmael water to drink from the well and it records that they dwelled there. (Genesis 21:20-21) The well sustained them for many years to come. We know that because in the wilderness Ishmael became an archer and even took a wife.

The well that God will show us will do the same thing. It will be a well that will sustain us in the days ahead. It is my prayer that God will open your eyes and show you the well of provision He has for you.