“You are the God who sees me”

Hagar, slave of Sarai, “gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me. That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi” (Genesis 16:13–14, NIV). Hagar found herself in a difficult situation and found God speaking to her, and the title for this article was her answer. God not only sees us but also cares for us.

Over 40 years ago, I set out to come to Japan on the invitation of a Japanese church. The church in Japan did not have the same background as the church I grew up in. Just before I left for Japan, I was told that my childhood church would not help me. But I knew God had opened this door, so I went to Japan anyway. In those days God gave a promise: “Follow my ways, and I will be with you.”

For my first few years, a retired missionary couple helped me, and then I was on my own until the door opened for me to be supported by another church back home. To do this efficiently, a small group in the church is responsible for sending out the “newsletter,” receiving funds and sending them on to Japan, keeping the address list of the supporters up-to-date, and praying and keeping in touch with me on a regular basis. When I am going back to report about the ministry here in Japan they help and arrange meetings.

Through this I learned a lot about the economy of Christ because he called people to partner with me not only in finances but most of all in prayer and sometimes, encouragement through letters and emails.

I always knew, though, that there were people praying for me and the people I love and am privileged to work with. The strongest supporter I ever had was my mother. Father died when I was nine years old; life was not very easy, but my mother was always giving and supporting missionaries and their work. In Switzerland we had many “travelling through” missionaries, evangelists, and preachers visiting our home. Mother always had something to give. One needed a bed to sleep in, so I slept on the floor in the living room. Another had holes in his shoes; Mother bought a new pair. Still another had eaten no food for two days. He sat at the table, and Mother served. “How did you know?” he said. “This is my favorite food!”

She answered, “Well, in the store Jesus told me to buy this piece of meat.” In the store she hadn’t known this visitor would be stopping by. When a missionary in India needed financial help, Mother somehow always found some money to give.

Now her “little girl” was in Japan. Every week a letter arrived, always with the same ending: “your day and night praying mother.” She did, but she also made sure that the people she knew kept on praying for her girl. Sometimes Mother would even ask people, “Have you sent some money lately?” I only found out about this last part some years after her promotion to heaven.

A dear friend in her nineties raised four children and now lives surrounded by grandchildren up to the fourth generation. She doesn’t miss a day to pray and to think about the work in Japan and me. All her children know the latest information about it, and I get much information about her family as well. And then there is the family who was once considering serving in Japan but decided to stay back home as they could help better this way. I can’t even begin to count the ways they’ve helped, and their house is always open to me.

So I want to draw attention to the millions of “behind the scenes” people we seldom hear about or who don’t get mentioned because many things are calculated and organized and measured like the ways of the world. Maybe it would be a good idea to stop for a moment and think about the many people who pray and give like the few I mentioned. Give praise to our wonderful and powerful God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for his faithfulness and grace through the years. And don’t forget to bless the people “behind your scene.”