Come Alive

Part 5: Come Alive - Resilience

The stories of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar in Genesis reveal the profound impact hardship can have on our relationship with God. It can either draw us closer to him or push us away. Sarai, longing for a child, grew bitter and blamed God for her pain, taking matters into her own hands. As her plan unfolded, she became consumed by anger and resentment. In contrast, Hagar, though mistreated and desperate, chose to trust God when he called her to return to a difficult situation. In her obedience, she experienced a deeply personal encounter with God, declaring, “You are the God who sees me.”

God is not the source of pain and hardship in our lives—he is the solution, walking with us through every trial and transforming our pain into deeper intimacy with him. When we choose to move toward God in our suffering, we discover he is already at work. Blaming God for our struggles can lead to anger and distance, but trusting him as the one who leads us through hardship brings comfort, strength, and renewal.

Hagar’s story reminds us that even in the hardest moments, God sees us, cares for us, and provides what we need. God uses the pain in our lives as an opportunity to draw us closer to him, transforming us through hardship and cultivating deeper intimacy with the one who sees, loves, and sustains us.