29th October 2025

It seems social media has caused us to be more isolated and less connected, even though the social part of social media might suggest otherwise. Nothing can replace the connections we make when we interact IRL (in real life). Talking together and looking in someone’s eyes just can’t be replicated on a device. We are already suffering the consequences of too much screen time, especially with children and teens. It has become all too easy to hide behind a fabricated persona.

In Genesis 16, Hagar thought she could hide from her mistress Sarai in the desert. She ran away due to a difficult domestic situation – Sarai had given her to her husband with the idea she could help God make his promise of many descendants come true. But all that did was cause Hagar to have contempt for Sarai and Sarai to mistreat Hagar. But even in the desert, Hagar couldn’t hide and she wasn’t invisible. The Angel of the Lord appeared to her as she cried by a spring. The preincarnate Christ asked her where she had come from and where she was going. When she explained, he told her to go back and submit to her mistress. And then Hagar said something astonishing: ‘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?” (v. 13 NLT). 

God truly sees us. We aren’t numbers or invisible; we can’t hide, even though that might make some feel uncomfortable. We can see him too, with the eyes of hearts enlightened by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:18). And what we see is someone who really cares, who sees us with eyes of love, compassion, mercy and grace. He took care of Hagar, and he takes care of us. And because he sees us, we can also see each other, in real life, eye to eye, in real relationships – and best without a screen!

First published on 23 September 2025, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com a personal blog which is not sponsored by Grace Communion International.

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