Only He Can: Finding Hope in Divine Vision

There's something profoundly comforting about knowing that someone truly sees you—not just your exterior, but the depths of your heart, your struggles, your needs before you even voice them. In a world where we often feel invisible or misunderstood, this truth becomes an anchor for the soul.

Consider the woman at the well in John chapter 4. Jesus didn't accidentally wander through Samaria. The text tells us He "must needs go through Samaria"—a route most religious people of His day deliberately avoided. But there was a divine appointment waiting. A woman who had known five husbands and was living with a man who wasn't her husband needed an encounter with Living Water.

Jesus saw her before He ever reached that well. He knew her story, her shame, her thirst for something more than the water she drew daily. And remarkably, knowing everything about her, He still chose to meet her there.

This is the beauty of divine vision: God sees us completely and loves us anyway. He doesn't wait for us to clean ourselves up or get our lives together. He meets us in our Samaria—those places we're ashamed of, those detours we think disqualify us from His presence.

Then there's Zacchaeus, the despised tax collector who climbed a sycamore tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. He wasn't trying to get close—he was keeping his distance, knowing he wasn't accepted by the crowd. But Jesus looked up into that tree and said, in essence, "I saw you before you ever needed this tree. Come down. We're having fellowship today."

Long before Zacchaeus needed that particular tree, God had planted it and caused it to grow right where it needed to be. Before we ever find ourselves in need, God has already prepared the provision. He sees the end from the beginning, and He's working all things together even when we can't see the pattern.

Psalm 107:1 declares: "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever."

That word "steadfast" is crucial. God's love isn't a roller coaster—up one day, down the next, dependent on our performance or circumstances. It's constant, unwavering, enduring. In the very hour when we feel like we can't make it, His love is there, holding us up.

We live in a world that operates on conditions and qualifications. We're measured by our education, our wealth, our status, our productivity. But 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 reminds us that God doesn't choose based on worldly standards. He chooses the foolish things to shame the wise, the weak things to shame the mighty, so that no one can boast in His presence.

This means you're called not because of what you bring to the table, but because God knows what He's placed inside you. He sees potential where others see problems. He sees purpose where others see disqualification.

There's a difference between having a screwdriver and having a power drill. Both can get the screw in, but one makes the job significantly easier. When we accept Christ, we have what we need for salvation—that's the screwdriver. But there's an additional power available to us: the Holy Spirit—the power drill that enables us to do what God has called us to do with supernatural ability.

Jesus promised in John 6:35 that He is the bread of life, the one who satisfies our deepest hunger. And in 1 Samuel 2:1-2, Hannah prays with a bursting heart: "Nothing, no one is holy like God. No rock or mountain like our God."

When we're filled with His presence, we're equipped for the journey. We're not just surviving; we're thriving. We're not just getting by; we're operating in power.

Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that there's a season for everything—a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. God knows what season you're in right now. He knows what time it is in your life. And He's not surprised by it.

Even when life brings challenges—when the devil tries to steal everything we're thankful for—we can remain grateful. Our thankfulness isn't dependent on circumstances; it's rooted in the unchanging character of God.

We can be thankful because our old account was settled long ago. We can be thankful because there's a new name written down in glory. We can be thankful because we've met the Author of our story, and He's writing a beautiful narrative even through the difficult chapters.

Perhaps you're in a season where you wonder if God sees you. Maybe you've been faithful, but it feels like you're invisible. Maybe you've struggled, and you wonder if you've disqualified yourself from His attention.

The truth is this: God sees you right now, exactly where you are. He knows your tomorrow before you get there. He's already preparing what you'll need before you realize you need it. And His love for you is steadfast—it doesn't waver based on your performance.

The woman at the well ran back to town saying, "Come see a man who told me everything I ever did." She wasn't ashamed anymore. She was amazed. When God sees us and still loves us, it transforms shame into testimony.

Living with the awareness that God truly sees us changes everything. It means we don't have to perform for approval. We don't have to hide our struggles. We don't have to pretend we have it all together.

It also means we can trust Him in the waiting, in the difficult seasons, in the moments when nothing makes sense. If He sees us, if He knows what tomorrow brings, if His love is steadfast, then we can rest in His provision and timing.

Today, wherever you are, whatever you're facing, know this: Only He can truly see you. Only He can fill the deepest places of your heart. Only He can provide what you need before you even ask. And His love for you endures forever.

That's reason enough for thanksgiving.