Hide N Seek

Hide n Seek

This used to be one of my favorite childhood games. I remember playing all hours of the night when I was younger…we would get a huge group of neighborhood kids together to play. As the sun went down, we would hide behind cars or houses, waiting to be sought after. We would run to “safety” when we felt bold enough to take a chance of coming out of our hiding spot.

Last year around this time, I had the great honor of speaking at a women’s luncheon at my Aunt’s church. God had selected me as one of the women to share his heart about how he created them. It was such a blessing. The title of the luncheon/conference was called “Hide n Seek.” I hadn’t really thought much about the title until the Lord reminded me of it, the other day…almost a year later. God’s timing is something that amazes me. He definitely doesn’t operate on the same clock that we do, amen?
I woke up and heard the words, “Hide N Seek.” I was still half asleep as I let my Dog out and went in my bathroom to begin my day. I heard the words again, clear as day… “Hide N Seek.” I knew it was the Lord speaking to me. I meditated on the words as I carried on with getting ready for work. The Lord showed me that we are to be as children with him…we are to HIDE in him….his word says in Psalm 17:8 that he “keeps me as the apple of his eye, he HIDES me under the shadow of his wings.”
Another scripture says that we are HIDDEN in Christ (Colossians 3:3). Why does he want us to hide? Does he want to punish us and keep us isolated? NO. Does he want to keep us from having fun with our friends? NO. Is he being selfish by wanting us to hide with him and spend time with him? Absolutely NOT. Then why? I will tell you why..it’s because it is in the hidden or secret place of his presence that we find rest for our souls. He is actually protecting us too…in Psalm 27:5 it says, “For in the time of trouble He shall HIDE me in his pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall HIDE me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
It also says, in Psalm 31:20 that God shall HIDE them in the secret place of his presence, from the plots of man; He shall keep them (us) secretly in a pavilion, from the strife of tongues.
He is a protective Daddy.
How can a Father express his protection for his children? Can he sit back as he watches them exhaust themselves? Should he back off as he see’s their tears from yet another disappointment? I don’t think so. Instead, God, our LOVING Father, takes us by the hand and whispers gently, “Come away my beloved”…”Spend time with me”, “Let me clean you off”, “Let me heal your wounds.”
When we shower are we doing it out in the public with every eye to see? Or are we hiding behind closed doors..privately (SECRETLY)? It’s like this with God. When he cleanses us, he does it secretly…he wants that intimate time with us. When married couples make love to one another, are they doing it out in the open where all eyes can see? Or are they doing it in the privacy of their own home?
Think about it.
God wants us to hide with him…to enjoy his presence, alone..be intimate with him…just talk to him and be real. He knows what we have need of even before we ask, but how much better to HEAR what his bride has to say?
The second part of this is to SEEK his face. Hide AND Seek. The bible says in Psalm 9:10, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For you, LORD, have not forsaken those who SEEK You.” In another Psalm…27:4, it says, “One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I SEEK: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.” I believe that this Psalm is actually talking about the presence of the Lord…to inquire in his temple…to dwell in his house…
Whose house are you dwelling in lately?
When we hide in his presence, we shouldn’t be inactive, we should be seeking his face. When the storms of life come and our houses or temples (our bodies) are hit on every side, where are you looking for shelter? Sure, it’s easy to hide and find refuge in other things…movies, video games, even other people…but if we are going to hide, it should be in CHRIST. Sure, it’s easy to seek and seek fulfillment in other things, like music, drugs, alcohol, lust, etc…but what we should be seeking is CHRIST. He is the answer to all of our problems. All of the other avenues will lead to self destruction.
I know from personal experience, I can be a great hider…even when playing the kids game (hide n seek) back in the day, I was good at it…but instead of running and hiding, let us hide and seek our creator’s face and allow him to do the work that needs to be done in us.
Lastly, my brothers and sisters, let us do as Psalm 105:3-4 says, “GLORY IN HIS HOLY NAME; LET THE HEARTS OF THOSE REJOICE WHO SEEK THE LORD! SEEK THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH; SEEK HIS FACE EVERMORE!” Amen.