Houston Devotional//Where is your Red Dot?

“So she called the Lord who spoke to her: The God Who Sees, for she said, ‘In this place, have I actually seen the One who sees me?’” 
                                                                                   Genesis 16:13 (HCSB)

YOU ARE HERE. The big red dot next to those words is an essential feature on any map. You see those dots in places like the mall, the amusement park, or the airport. When you need direction, that red dot shows you where you are, how you got there, and where you need to go. 

Internalizing the red dot can prove a valuable exercise in self-examination. It’s not just a dot on a map; it’s a reflection of your journey. Where am I? How did I get here? Where am I going? More than words, these questions can help you assess your life, especially your spiritual journey. They also possess biblical merit. 

I love these three examples in Scripture when God asks his children, “Where are you?” Those stories teach us much about examining our red dot. In Genesis 16, Hagar, carrying Ishmael in her womb, has had enough of Sarai’s mistreatment, and she runs away. The Angel of the Lord meets her at a spring in the wilderness and asks her, “Where have you come from and where are you going?” In I Kings 19, God repeatedly asks the burnt-out prophet Elijah, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Perhaps the most well-known instance occurs in Genesis 3 when God calls out to Adam after the fall and asks, “Where are you?” In each case, God already knew the answer to the question. So why did he ask? Why does he still ask his children that question? The biblical characters’ responses give us insight into the purpose behind God’s inquiry. 

God intervenes at pivotal moments, causing them to pause and reflect. They begin telling their stories. Their accounts reveal confessions of sin, rationalizations, struggles, doubts, fears, unmet expectations, and wrong thinking. You can almost feel their relief as they verbally express their experiences.

God responds. He gives direction, provides encouragement, assuages fear, confirms his promises and their purpose and calling, and, yes, also reveals consequences. He lets them know he sees them. Hagar aptly names him El Roi, the God who sees. He lets them know they are fully known and fully loved. Their lives take a new turn—redirected according to God’s sovereignty and perfect love.

Have you ever asked yourself, How did I get here? What am I doing? Where am I going? I have asked those questions at many pivotal points throughout my life. The gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit, always the protagonist, causes me to stop and reflect on my red dot. 

Do you need to identify your red dot? Have you heard the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit prompting you to stop and reflect on your journey? Whether you struggle spiritually, question your calling, or find yourself on the wrong path, the transformative power of his questions will reveal your exact location. You can rely on his faithful guidance.

You don’t have to struggle alone. Remember, just like Adam, Hagar, and Elijah, you are fully known and loved by the God who sees you. Openly tell God your story. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Shirley Ralston (MACE, 2008) serves on the leadership team for the DTS-Houston Alumni Association. She is a writer, teacher, and pastor’s research team member at Houston’s First Baptist Church. She is also a founding member of the HFBC Missionary Care Team. Shirley and her husband, Jeff, reside in Houston after several years living in the Middle East and the South Pacific.