Open My Eyes

Have you ever misplaced something that was right in front of you—your glasses, your keys, or even your phone—only to realize it was sitting on the counter the whole time? Sometimes in life, we just need our eyes opened to see what’s already there.

Genesis 21:19 says, “Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.” In her despair, Hagar thought all hope was gone. But God opened her eyes to the provision that had been there all along.

That’s what we’re talking about today—asking God to open our eyes. To see His provision, His answers, and His hand at work in our lives, even when we feel empty or overlooked.

I think when we are praying for something so specific, like the salvation of someone, we can miss the things that God is already doing. Maybe they’re now asking for prayer or bringing up Bible questions. But because it’s not the very specific thing we’ve been praying for, we don’t see the little breakthroughs God is working in their life.

Remember, sometimes we just need to open our eyes to the day-to-day things while also focusing on the big things.

My husband often points at things and tells me to look.

It can take me a while to figure out exactly what it is he’s pointing at. After a while, he’ll say, “Can you not see it?”

Well, sometimes it’s just too difficult to figure out because there’s a lot happening. Other times, I literally just cannot see it until he gives me more information.

When we ask God to open our eyes, I think that’s a way of asking for more information—so we can better understand what He is trying to show us.

When you’re feeling uncertain, ask God to help you better understand and see what He wants you to see.

Life hands us a lot at times, and other times we’re just going along enjoying what we can. Either way, let’s remember to ask the Lord what He wants for us.

Ask Him to show all He provides, the answers to our prayers, and His hand in all things. Let’s stay aware of the Lord’s work in our lives. Let’s keep our eyes open to Him.

Over the past few months, I’ve noticed that my knack for being very aware of things has diminished. I understand the reasons behind it, but that doesn’t make it less real. It can be good because it forces me to focus more, but it can also be bad because I miss things I once noticed easily.

We often overlook what’s right in front of us. We can forget what we’re doing while doing it. We can be oblivious—and that’s why we need to ask God to open our eyes to see and know what He wants us to know.

Genesis 21:19 says, “Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.”

So many times, my kids have asked me where something is. I can tell them exactly where it is, and they still can’t find it. Then I go in, pick it up, and show them.

We can be so hyper-focused on what we need that we still overlook it. Isn’t that funny? Think about how many times that’s happened to you. Once you finally realize what you’re actually looking for, it’s suddenly right there.

God is a gracious and loving God. He will always be there, ready to open your eyes to what you can’t see.

He wants your life open to His guidance—but for that, we have to be willing to accept whatever may come and realize that He is our provider and protector. He knows exactly what we need.

Though we may feel lost, we are not. Though we may feel alone, we are not. God sees what we cannot. We may not know the plan—but He does.

Genesis 21:19 says, “Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.”

Hagar was at a loss. She didn’t know what was next other than death for her and her son. But God saw her. He knew her need. And so He opened her eyes to salvation through a water well.

God is that well that never runs dry. He supplies exactly what we need.

The other day my mother-in-law lost something and couldn’t remember where she put it. She looked everywhere she thought it might be but couldn’t find it. My husband looked too, but still nothing. So I decided I’d go look as well. Before I started, I simply prayed, “God, open my eyes because I don’t even know where to look.”

I went over to her desk, moved a few papers, and there it was.

We can look and search and even ask others for help, but sometimes it’s not until we seek the Lord and ask Him for help that we find what we’re looking for.

There may be times when we find ourselves in a waiting period, when things just seem grim and hopeless.

Remember that in Genesis 21, Hagar felt the same way. Life looked so bad. But God saw her need and heard the cries of her son. He opened her tired, weary eyes to see a well full of water.

We can find ourselves so weary that all we can do is cry out. But know this: God hears you and will answer your cries at just the right time.

Let’s go back to Hagar’s story. She was in the desert, hopeless and ready to give up, when God opened her eyes and showed her the well that would save her and her son. The well was always there, but she couldn’t see it until God revealed it.

That’s often how it is in our own lives. We get caught up in the dry seasons, the struggles, the unanswered prayers—and we miss the fact that God has already placed what we need right in front of us.

So maybe the prayer we need today is simple: “Lord, open my eyes.” 

Open my eyes to Your blessings. Open my eyes to opportunities to love others. Open my eyes to the ways You are providing, protecting, and guiding me every single day.

And here’s the good news—when God opens your eyes, you’ll always find that He’s closer and more faithful than you realized.