In the grand tapestry of biblical narratives, there's a story that never fails to captivate my heart – the story of Hagar. Her journey is a treasure trove of inspiration, a reminder of God's unwavering love and care for single mothers. Whenever I need a dose of wisdom to unlock abundance in my life, I turn to her story. Let's explore a few truths I've recently unearthed from her tale, without venturing into sermon territory, but trust me, these insights have profoundly shifted my perspective.
God is a provider.
In Genesis 21, we see how God provided for Hagar's immediate physical needs. Cast out into the wilderness with her son Ishmael, she had limited resources and faced an uncertain future. But God, in His divine providence, transformed her dire circumstances into a wellspring of opportunities. He opened doors where there were none, quenching their thirst and nourishing their spirits.
"And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink." - Genesis 21:19
God can use any circumstance.
Imagine this: a single mother and her son, alone in the wilderness, seemingly without hope. But God had other plans for Hagar and her son Ishmael. Genesis 21:20 clearly says that "God was with the boy as He grew up." Not only was God always present with him, but God anointed him to be a skilled archer and hunter while living in the wilderness. This is a testament to God's ability to elevate us, no matter our circumstances, when we trust in His guidance.
"God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer." - Genesis 21:20
The Lord is our strength in the middle of the storm.
In times of despair and hopelessness, God provided Hagar with spiritual hope and strength. When an angel of the Lord came to Hagar, he called her by name, showing her that God has not abandoned her. His promises became her anchor in the stormy seas of life. While we may not all experience an angel coming to us, God still calls each of us His daughters. And by standing in that identity, we can find strength in the middle of any storm.
“But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heave, ‘Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.’” - Genesis 21:17-18
As I first read Hagar’s story, I deeply resonated with her feelings of hopeless and abandonment. The more I reflected on it, the more God showed me these truths about who HE is. Hagar’s story is a testament to God's love and care for single mothers, offering us guidance, strength, and opportunities even in the most challenging of circumstances. Just like Hagar, we can find abundance when we trust in God’s plan and open our hearts to His transformative power.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Kristy Angelee is an inspirational speaker, author, businesswoman, and personal chef who balances career, ministry, and family. She is redefining what it means to be a modern single mom of faith. She has a passion for empowering single moms to overcome obstacles. Whether through her book, business, or coaching, she delivers transformational messages that are powerful and empowers not only single moms but every people, nation, tribe, and tongue seeking to reclaim their life with Christ.
Connect with Kristy on her Facebook page!
WHO WE ARE
The Life of a Single Mom is a national, faith-based, nonprofit that exists to see that no single mom walks alone. To date, the organization has worked with hundreds of churches to start a single mom’s support group in cities throughout the U.S. and beyond, as well as having served hundreds of thousands of single mothers with a variety of programs. Offering a large array of books, curriculum, training materials, online instructional videos, podcasts, newsletters, life skills education, and more, TLSM is one of the largest single mom organizations in the U.S. The robust selection of single mom programs focus on empowering single moms to grow spiritually, emotionally, financially, and parentally through Single Mom University, Single Moms Across America, the National TLSM Single Moms Conference, boot camps, and a variety of other programs. For more information, visit thelifeofasinglemom.com.
