There are moments in our walk with God when we long to feel Him more deeply, beyond our thoughts, beyond our routines, beyond the noise of everyday life. On the latest episode of Living the Reclaimed Life, we invited a guest whose ministry is built around exactly that kind of transformational encounter.
I’m thrilled to introduce you to Stephanie Palmer, founder of Hope Transformed, a ministry devoted to helping people experience God in creative, sensory, and deeply personal ways. Whether through interactive worship, hands-on activities, or her YouTube series The Names of God, Stephanie has a gift for helping people meet God right where they are.
Today on the blog, I want to share some of the beautiful insights from our conversation, especially around one of God’s most tender names: El Roi, the God who sees me.
How A Creative Encounter Opens the Heart
Stephanie’s ministry began decades ago in an unexpected place – her church youth group. As a worship leader, she noticed students showing up more for social time than spiritual connection. So she prayed and asked God for fresh ideas to help them truly encounter Him.
That’s when interactive worship was born.
She began setting up simple, hands-on stations during worship: a place to take communion, a wall where students could finish the sentence “Jesus, I love You because…”, or a space to sit quietly and reflect. These moments opened doors for middle schoolers to experience God in ways that touched them more deeply than words alone ever could.
Over the years, these experiences grew into full retreat encounters, spaces where people could move from table to table, engaging their senses through touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste as they met with God.
But the most repeated question Stephanie heard was:
“How do I experience this at home?”
Her response became the inspiration behind her YouTube channel: creating ways for people to encounter God in their everyday lives, not just at events or retreats.
Meeting God Through His Names
One of Stephanie’s most powerful series is The Names of God. She invites viewers to explore God’s character through tactile experiences, reflections, and simple items they can hold or use in their quiet time.
Each name becomes more than a theological idea. Iit becomes an experience.
And during our conversation, Stephanie walked us through one of her favorites:
El Roi: The God who sees me. It’s a name that comes from Genesis 16, where Hagar, alone, mistreated, and fleeing, encounters God in the wilderness. In her deepest moment of rejection and invisibility, she discovers the truth:
God saw her.
God knew her.
God met her.
And He does the same for us.
A Mirror, a Moment, and a Message: You Are Enough
Stephanie guided us through a simple but powerful exercise using something almost all of us have close by: a mirror.
If you want to try it, here’s a shortened version you can revisit during your quiet time:
- Hold a small mirror (or stand in front of one).
- Look deeply into your own eyes.
- Ask yourself honestly:
“Am I enough?” - Bring to the surface the areas where you wrestle with this question: fear of failure, insecurity, perfectionism, feeling unseen or unappreciated.
- Then speak truth over yourself:
- I am blessed.
- I am chosen.
- I am complete in Christ.
- God sees me.
- I am enough because He is enough in me.
Stephanie reminded us that God doesn’t evaluate our worth by our achievements or failures, but by His unshakable love for us. When He sees us, He sees daughters created in His image, fearfully, wonderfully, and purposefully made.
Encountering God Anywhere, Even on a Playground
One of my favorite moments from this episode came when Deborah shared a personal story. She was at a playground with her daughter when she listened to one of Stephanie’s YouTube videos. While her daughter played, she closed her eyes and followed the guided reflection.
Suddenly, the mulch, slides, and laughter around her faded, and she found herself spiritually at the throne of grace, imagining Jesus seated on His throne, welcoming her in.
That moment transformed an ordinary afternoon into a sacred encounter.
And that’s the beauty of what Stephanie teaches:
God is not limited to church services, retreats, or quiet rooms.
He meets us in kitchens, playgrounds, cars, and crowded stores.
He meets us wherever our hearts pause to notice Him.
For the One Who Feels Invisible Today
Maybe today you feel like Hagar – tired, discouraged, mistreated, or unseen. Perhaps you’re simply hanging on by a thread. Maybe you’ve received bad news, or you’re walking through a difficult season.
Hear this:
El Roi sees you.
He knows exactly where you are.
He has not forgotten you.
And He delights in meeting you in the middle of your ordinary moments.
Sometimes all it takes is a simple pause, a quiet breath, or a whispered prayer: “Lord, let me encounter You today.”
Free Resources to Go Deeper
If you want to explore these ideas further, Stephanie has created some wonderful tools:
✔ Free Download:
Five Ways to Encounter God Using Your Five Senses
A simple PDF with practical ways to incorporate sensory engagement into your quiet time.
✔ YouTube Series:
The Names of God
Each episode includes guided reflection, hands-on moments, and beautiful teaching to help you know God’s character more personally.
✔ Gratitude Experience for Kids
A hands-on, interactive lesson that teaches children about thankfulness, perfect for families.
All of these resources and more can be found on the Hope Transformed YouTube channel.
You Are Seen. You Are Loved. You Are Enough.
My prayer for you today is that you allow this truth to sink deep into your heart:
The God who sees all of creation also sees every detail of your life. And He treasures you.
Whether you’re at a playground, washing dishes, or listening on your drive home, may you encounter His presence in new and meaningful ways.
To listen to the full conversation with Stephanie Palmer, head over to this episode of Living the Reclaimed Life, you won’t want to miss it. Listen HERE. Stay Connected with Hope Transformed: YouTube Channel; Instagram. FREE RESOURCE: 5 ways to use all 5 senses in your worship
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