El Roi is one of the Hebrew names for God in the Old Testament. It means, “God who sees me.”

Sometimes, like in the story of Abraham, Sarai, and Hagar (where the name “El Roi” originated), God sees our desperation and He comes to us Himself with words of comfort and instruction. Sometimes, like in the story of Jesus’ birth, God sends His angels to bring comfort. Sometimes God uses His own children to bring comforting words and helping hands to those who are suffering.

Today, Jeremy and Jessica Courtney are doing just that. About ten years ago, this couple made their home in the war zones of Iraq and Syria. They settled in to embrace the residents there who feared for their lives, whose businesses were destroyed, whose children were born with defects due to air pollution from war.

Jeremy and Jessica created an organization called Preemptive Love. Through it, they have gathered doctors, funds, medical equipment, and volunteers to help end the suffering of their neighbors. They rebuild the comforts of health, home, and work to those who have lost them.

El Roi is our all-seeing God.

Whether war is raging in our bodies, our families, or our neighborhoods, He knows. We can call on Him and know that in His way, will lead us to comfort.