DAILY DEVOTIONAL TODAY – March 6, 2025 || Our Daily Bread [Daily Devotion] | MamClaireTV

Devotional Message:
(Genesis 21:17)
"God heard the boy crying."

Observation

Life is full of unexpected turns. Sometimes, we find ourselves in painful situations we never imagined. We may feel abandoned, forgotten, or helpless. In Genesis 21, we see Hagar and her son, Ishmael, experiencing this kind of hardship.

Hagar had been a servant in Abraham’s household, and Ishmael was Abraham’s son. However, when Sarah, Abraham’s wife, gave birth to Isaac, she didn’t want Ishmael to share in the inheritance. So, she demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. Though Abraham was troubled, God told him to listen to Sarah because He had a plan for Ishmael.

Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the desert with limited supplies. Eventually, their water ran out, and they were exhausted. Hagar, overwhelmed with grief, placed Ishmael under a bush and walked away because she couldn’t bear to watch him die. She wept, and her son wept too. But then, something incredible happened—God heard the boy crying.

The angel of the Lord called to Hagar from heaven and reassured her, saying, "Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying." Then, God opened her eyes to see a well of water that had been there all along. She gave Ishmael a drink, and they survived. The Bible tells us that God remained with Ishmael as he grew up and eventually became the father of a great nation, just as God had promised.

This story teaches us that even in our lowest moments, when we feel lost, forgotten, or afraid, God hears us. He sees us. He provides for us, even when we cannot see the way forward.

Application

1. God Hears Our Cries
Just as God heard Ishmael, He hears us too. Sometimes, when we are in pain or going through struggles, it feels like no one understands or cares. But God is always listening. Even when we can’t find the words to pray, even when our hearts are too heavy to speak, God hears the