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Hagar found herself in a precarious and perilous situation (Gen 21:14-21). With a tiny infant in her arms, she ran out water in a dreary dessert. She was distraught and distressed. Her only option was to watch helplessly her son experience slow and agonizing death. We can only imagine the pain and anguish of a mother. But something astounding happened! An angel of the Lord heard the cry of Hagar’s baby. The angel asked Hagar: what troubles you? God opened the eyes of Hagar and she saw a well of water nearby. She felt a huge relief. It is worth noting that the well of water did not just appear. It was not freshly dug. All the while Hagar was crying, overwhelmed with sorrow in the throes of despair, she did not see the well until the God opened her eyes.
When we face the challenges of life and confront the turbulence of human existence, we may be so overwhelmed, so gripped with our sorrow that we cannot see the solution to our problem or answer to our questions. We may be staring gloomily at the closed door and we are unable to see the new door open before us. We may be so harassed and embarrassed by our weaknesses and inadequacies and we cannot see the enormous graces of God. We may be battered by the storms of life and we cannot see the silver lining.
The Pharisees were so obsessed with the Jesus’ infractions of the letter of Mosaic law and they did not see that He was the Messiah. Pilate was arrogantly asking for truth without knowing that he was in the presence of divine Truth. Mary Magdalene was crying profusely unable to recognize Jesus. In the darkest moments of our life, all we have to do is to open our eyes and see the solution to our problems. Finding solution to our problem is not always like looking for a needle in a haystack. Our breakthrough may be hidden under opaque terrain of our fears and anxiety.
Like Bartholomew, we beg the Lord to open our eyes that we may see new opportunities, new solution, new door, new answer to life’s question, new hope in despair, light at the end of the tunnel. Open my eyes that I may see the wonders of your love! Ps (119:18).
