He Sees You When You’re Weeping, He Knows Just What’s at Stake

He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake.

How creepy is that, right? Sounds more like a Stephen King novel than a Christmas song. The idea that someone sees everything we do can be unsettling.

That’s one reason someone invented Santa. To help parents keep little ones in line when they left the room.

But, what can be a sobering thought for mischievous little ones, can be an enormous encouragement to those who labor faithfully at duties no one else sees. No one human, that is.

There’s a consistent call in the Christian community to make time for rest, recreation, and contemplation. It’s a good call.

Still, there many engaged in demanding, unrelenting labor that isn’t about selfish ambition or consumerism, but requires consistent devotion, either for a reason or a season. Farmers, parents of special needs children, caretakers for the very old or the dying, missionaries who are the only light for Christ for entire regions, first responders in disaster areas, and many others can’t take vacations, hours to meditate, or sometimes even eight uninterrupted hours to sleep.

For these weary souls, I have this to say by way of encouraging you amid these demands: Jesus sees you when you’re weeping, He knows just what’s at stake. Loved one, you may not be able to take even an hour off, but know you can still rest in Jesus, even while you work.

Because God never slumbers nor sleeps, and He is ever watchful even over those of us who feel invisible.

People planet-wide are doing mighty, heroic, compassionate, sacrificial things, that no few ever see. These are the round-the-clock faithful. Spouses holding and calming disoriented husbands or wives who awaken panic-stricken because of Alzheimer’s or wrestling with pain from a crippling illness.

Parents praying into the night over sleeping, straying, or sick children – battling for them on a celestial plane, bathed in the glow of night-lights, listening to hospital monitors, or watching for headlights in the driveway.

Caregivers, medical workers, and first responders in a myriad of circumstances administering comfort, aid, rescue, consolation, and true joy while everyone else shops, celebrates, or sleeps.

Young people standing behind registers and counters working hard, providing fine service, even when no one is looking, not so they can buy video games, but so they can help with rent. Farmers laboring in fields, growing food they can’t afford to purchase. Adult children sleeping on waiting room couches so they can monitor ailing parents.

Soldiers not old enough to drink, faithfully standing watch in lands far from home wondering if anyone is thinking of them. Men and women stringing together multiple jobs just to cover their daily living expenses, unable to say no to extra shifts.  Homeless friends taking turns watching out for those who would prey on them.

Ministers caring for the broken or hurting long into the night. Social workers leaving warm homes to rescue confused and battered children, sitting in government offices pleading with others to take the children in so they don’t spend Christmas sleeping on sofa. Foster parents making up beds in the night to receive children who just want to go home.

So, our God made rock stars out of shepherds.

Shepherds didn’t have the coveted roles of their day that the Christmas story portrays. Until that band of angels showed up, shepherds were the invisible people of their day. They clung to the bottom rung of society. People probably told shepherd jokes at the inns.

Shepherds smelled bad, spent hours alone, and likely felt forgotten as their families gathered without them.

Their acts of heroism – helping ewes through difficult births, defending the flock from hungry lions or wolves, and rescuing lost sheep, was expected, but went unseen. They recited poetry and sang songs for an audience of One.

Their faithfulness was taken for granted by everyone but the One who sees all. And the joys they experienced – new lambs, light shows in the sky, or triumphing over danger – they rejoiced in these experiences alone, too.

God sent a message to all invisible people who keep watch round-the-clock, when He chose to announce the birth of His Son to shepherds.

God’s son could have been born anywhere at any time. Certainly, there were more important people who could have heard the news first. Babies are born in the daylight all the time. I think God wanted everyone who labors faithfully, but invisibly to know – He sees.

He knows all those times you choose to do the right thing when no one is looking. He shares your joy. He knows your sorrow. Even if no one else knows, He sees that you are a hero.

One day, everyone will know because He sees. No one ever sang songs about shepherds until Jesus arrived on the scene. Well, not nice songs. In heaven, they’re composing songs about you, faithful ones, and our God sings them over you, even now.

So, don’t lose heart in the late watches of the night. You’re never alone. You’re never unnoticed. He knows there’s too much at stake for you to rest just now, so rest in His presence, draw strength from His great heart.

The God of the Universe sees and One day He will tell us your story.

Until then, lift a mug of coffee to the shepherds who went before you and thank God for sending Jesus who faithfully shepherds us all through the watches of our long night.

Sonrise will come, dear friends, and with it, our long-awaited rest.

He Sees You When You’re Weeping, He Knows Just What’s at Stake https://t.co/F1Pn7XsDvC #Christmas #fires #tired

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) December 10, 2017