Theology and faith

The God who sees me

Posted by Jenni James on 19 May 2025

In our prayer meeting last week, someone shared this verse from Genesis 16. We were praying for the many women who have been let down by systems that were supposed to protect them, and who are struggling to get justice – as is all too often the experience for survivors of domestic abuse. The verse from Genesis reminds us that where human systems so often fail to bring truth to light, God sees us and cares about our stories.

It’s a passage that is in some ways particularly fitting when it comes to praying for survivors of domestic abuse. It’s spoken by Hagar, an Egyptian slave who became concubine to Abram so that he could have a child. After being treated cruelly by Abram’s wife Sarai, Hagar flees to the desert, where she’s met by the angel of the Lord. This messenger of God calls Hagar by name and promises that she will have many descendents. A woman with no power or status then becomes the only person in scripture to give God a name: He’s the God who sees her. 

Not all of Hagar’s story is applicable to survivors of domestic abuse. But she’s a reminder that, no matter our status or how we’re treated by those around us, God sees us, knows us and cares for us. This is encouraging in so many ways, but here are three things that I think we can draw from knowing God as the God who sees us.

God sees when we aren’t believed

Whilst awareness of domestic abuse is increasing, sadly many survivors are still met with doubt or disbelief when they tell someone about what’s going on. This is hugely damaging and serves to compound the trauma of abuse, whilst adding the confusion that victims experience when trying to make sense of what’s happening to them. 

Knowing God as the God who sees is reassurance that, even if those around us –  whether friends, family members or formal structures – don’t accept our stories, God knows the truth of what has happened. As another verse reminds us, he sees to the heart¹: no matter what face an abuser might put on in public, God knows how they’ve treated people in private. If you’re a survivor facing disbelief, know that God sees you and knows all that has happened.

God sees when justice isn’t done

Further to this, we can remind ourselves that God is a God of perfect justice, and he will hold people to account for their actions. One of the most common things we hear from survivors of domestic abuse is how they’ve been let down by the justice system and family courts. Even before this, survivors of faith who disclose to their church leaders are often not referred to further support, as churches try to handle situations of domestic abuse ‘in house’. Many women have been forced to leave their church communities, whilst perpetrators remain and don’t face any consequences.

Hagar’s words encourage us that God sees when justice isn’t done. Throughout the Bible, God promises that he will establish justice and hold wrongdoers to account. This might not happen in this life, but one day God will come to set things right. That’s a promise we can hold on to when justice isn’t done today. 

God sees our small acts

Hagar’s name for God isn’t just encouraging for people who have experienced domestic abuse; it’s also relevant to those of us who are working to support survivors and stand against domestic abuse. Sometimes the scale of the problem can feel overwhelming: 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse, and support services are stretched beyond their limits. Many of us will have walked with survivors and seen just how difficult it can be to find adequate support and fair outcomes.  

When faced with this seemingly insurmountable challenge, we can know that God sees all the things we do to care for survivors and change broken systems. It might not always feel like we’re making much difference, but our actions matter to God and he values them deeply. If you’re feeling discouraged or disheartened, know that God sees you and is with you even when things feel tough. 

We shouldn’t stop working towards a world where survivors of domestic abuse can access adequate support and perpetrators are truly held accountable for their actions. But, as Hagar reminds us in Genesis, when we feel alone and when justice is denied, God is the God who sees us.

¹1 Samuel 16:7