God Sees Your Silent Nights - Your Nightly Prayer - December 5th
Your Nightly Prayer
Audio By Carbonatix
By Angie Grant, Crosswalk.com
God Sees Your Silent Nights
Your Nightly Prayer
By Angie Grant
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?" - Genesis 16:13
SOMETHING TO PONDER
I lost my mom six years ago, and she loved Christmas. Those first few years after we lost her were so difficult for me to even remotely feel like being celebratory. Everything felt hard, everything felt sad, and everything felt silent. She was the mom and Grandmother, Wife and friend everyone loved being with around Christmas — she was the best cook, the best table scaper — and the BEST gift giver.
I wondered if it would ever feel or be the same again. You know what I learned? No, it has never been the same—it's just been different. If I gave up on Christmas, I knew that my mom would be so disappointed. All those things throughout the years that she taught me — like going into a restaurant and, as a family, choosing someone dining there to bless and pay for their meal anonymously. For all the little gifts she'd leave that were wrapped like Nordstroms, to gather us all around and listen to the Christmas Story so that we would never forget the true reason we celebrated. Oh, and we can't forget the hours of baking together as we pulled out old family recipes that have become traditions.
As I began to re-enact all those moments my mom created for me, I started telling the stories —now to my grandkids, who never had the blessing of meeting her. It was a way for my mom to still live on in our celebration. I have also realized that just as in Genesis 16:13, God sees me. He sees me in my quiet thoughts, my memories, and the here and now. There is something about sensing God seeing you in your loss. It almost feels sacred. He doesn't glance past our heartache or wait for us to get over it. Just like our verse tonight, which references the encounter Hagar had with God — He came close to Hagar in the wilderness — she was alone, misunderstood, and grieving the life she thought she'd have. She was in a barren place — yet God saw her there! He met her there! That's what He does in our sorrow, grief, and pain. He comes close.
Grief can make the world feel blurry, but God's gaze is clear and steady. He sees not just the tears but the story behind those tears. God's eyes are on you- you are not invisible. You are seen, loved, and known by the one who carries both your grief and your hope for all your tomorrows.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father,
Thank you, Jesus, for carrying me in both my grief and my hope. I feel seen tonight by you. Thank you for being close- for meeting me in my sorrow and pain. May this holiday season be one not of barrenness but of fruit. May I fix my eyes on the one who holds everything in the palm of his hand, causing me to know that you are near. In Jesus' name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE ON
1. Do I feel seen in my grief or pain tonight?
2. Am I trying to carry it all on my own?
3. What might I do to change my perspective on how I'm walking through grief?
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Annie Spratt
Angie Grant is passionate about helping others become the best versions of themselves—whether in family life, ministry leadership, or in supporting schools and educators. She’s all in! Her greatest joys—besides Jesus and her husband, Stan—are the four who call her “Mom” (three biological and one through the gift of adoption). An even sweeter title? “Lolli” to her five grandkids.
Angie holds a degree in Child and Family Studies and currently serves on the staff at Cloverhill Church, where she and her husband have been leading for over 25 years. She is the Executive Director of Cloverhill Christian Academy, located in Midlothian, Virginia. Angie is a dedicated advocate for foster children and families, and also serves as a Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner, offering support in her community and beyond. In addition to her roles in church and education, Angie contributes her insight and leadership as a board member for Families First and the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services.
How does she do it all? With purpose and passion—as a coach in family life, ministry, and schools, Angie brings experience, empathy, and a heart for helping others thrive.
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