What do we hide from? Truth, lies, God, ourselves? Depending on the time of life (or day) I could answer yes to all . . . .
You’ll remember when the phrase of the age was “I’m trying to find myself.” For me, it was just an excuse to keep looking. If only we could be as determined to find the One who can help us find ourselves.
Some of us spend a lifetime staying lost.
While reading Psalm 139 this morning, I thought of our out in the open hiding places. It’s amazing as humans how we think we can outwit Omnipotence.
When my kids were very young, I loved how they hid behind their hands and believed they couldn’t be seen. I would ask baby son, “Where’s Tommy?” With bangs and tiny hands to cover him, he waited still and silent. In his mind he disappeared while standing in front of me. It only works when we’re two.
To hide means to conceal, to keep secret. Only three chapters into the Bible and we come across the word for the first time. . . when innocence was stolen in the garden.
They heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden in the cool of the day and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8
With a God’s eye view, Father asks, “Where are you?”
Shame sent the dust-man into hiding, behind leaves, then came excuses. God knew where he was, but He wanted Adam to know where he was.
In nakedness before Him.
He asks the same question of us today.
David writes in Psalm 139: Lord you examine me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. Lord, even before I say a word, You already know it. You are all around me, in front and in back, and You have put Your hand on me. Your knowledge is amazing to me. It is more than I understand.
I don’t need to read the remaining verses to realize I can’t hide behind excuses, I can’t even hide in the dark. He wrote my story in the dark of my mother’s womb. Even darkness is not dark to Him.
So, He wins, He found me! in my self-made pit . . . And, I’ll praise Him to my last breath . . . and then I’ll praise Him forever!
You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. Psalm 32:7 (NIV)
Verna
So true, Verna! We try to hide, yet when we want to have it all on the table with God, how great to know we can’t ever be out of His watchful care! Thanks for sharing!
. . . a safe place to be . . . thank you, Joanie!
LOVE this, Verna. “If only we could be as determined to find the One who can help us find ourselves.” – so very true. When we seek Him and are willing to lay open all of ourselves, He gives us more than we can imagine.
The key . . . “to lay open all of ourselves” and come out of the hiding places . . He gives us more than we imagine. . . thank you, Jeanette!
One of my favorite passages from The Message Bible is Psalm 18:16-24 –
“But me He caught–reached all the way from sky to sea; He pulled me out of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning. They hit me when I was down, but God stuck by me. He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved–surprised to be loved! God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before Him. When I got my act together, He gave me a fresh start. Now I’m alert to God’s ways; I don’t take God for granted. Every day I review the ways He works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to His eyes.”
Thanks for this wonderful reminder of His grace, Verna.
Blessings,
Becky
This is beautiful, God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before Him . . . I love the Message and should refer to it more and more. I’d so love to meet you, dear Becky!
Verna, why do you keep reading my mail? I agree we all try to hide at some point. So glad God sees and still loves us so much. Love the picture you added. Be Blessed. Hannah
Oh, that’s funny . . . yes we do . . . thanks for stopping by, you always add a sweet touch!
Great post Verna! So glad we can’t really hide from God. Like in the story of Jonah, he comes and finds us wherever we are…The God of the second chance. Such grace!
Jonah went the total opposite direction than where he was told to go, and STILL wound up in the original spot where obedience would’ve taken him . . .
Such grace is right! Thanks, Glenda for always checking in . . . .