Hiding is usually motivated by fear.
When you put it that way, hiding doesn’t seem all that bad, does it?
I have a vivid memory of hiding in my room at age 13, listening to the same sad song on repeat on my CD player. I was grieving the fact that we’d just dropped my brother off at college, and I was an only child. I’d never been an only child, and I wasn’t looking forward to it.
My whole life, all I’d ever wanted was for my brother to think I was cool. I had my own thoughts and ways of doing things – I wasn’t ruled by his opinion, but I wanted his approval. But with him out of the house, it was as though my “cool” compass was gone. I would really have to think for myself and I was woefully unequipped to do that.
So I hid.
I would really have to think for myself and I was woefully unequipped to do that.
About a year or so ago, I had a conversation with my father about some of the things that I want for my life. I lamented the fact that they had not come to pass yet, despite what felt like my best efforts. He told me, “I don’t think this is about what you have or haven’t done to bring these things to pass. I think God has hidden you.”
It was both comforting, in that it wasn’t my fault, and frustrating, in that it wasn’t my fault. In other words, I couldn’t change anything. So I stayed in my holy hiding place. I think I’m still there, actually.
Isn’t it comforting to know that when the world (or maybe just our own little personal worlds) is in an uproar, we can hide beneath the feathers of His wings? While everything else feels chaotic, God is seated on His throne. Not up, pacing around. Seated. Confidently. And we have access to Him. In fact, our hiding place is right there with Him.
While everything else feels chaotic, God is seated on His throne. Not up, pacing around. Seated. Confidently.
Sometimes, we don’t have the option of whether or not to hide. God, in His lovingkindness, just shields us. Other times, we should be running to Him. And still there are those moments where we want desperately to hide in His wings, but He is buddy pushing us out of the nest. Those are the moments that we have to trust He knows more than we do. We can fly, even if we don’t feel like we can.
So how do we know when to run back to our hiding place? For me, it’s a day like today. When I’m feeling out of control and at the mercy of circumstances I didn’t create. When those feelings are complicated by the resurgence of painful memories and triggering interactions with people I’d rather avoid for the rest of my life.
As soon as I finish writing this, I’ll be running to my Hiding Place.
Most of us have others who look to us, who depend on us. I think that sometimes, the best thing we can do for them is hide.
Most of us have others who look to us, who depend on us. I think that sometimes, the best thing we can do for them is hide. Not from them. But for them. We cannot pour from an empty cup, as they say. And we cannot borrow today’s strength from tomorrow’s batch. Only when we hide our souls in Him can we be strong and courageous for others.
That might mean we turn down the noise of the world and its problems. It might mean we listen to others’ concerns for a moment or two, but we don’t choose to shoulder those burdens just yet.
So how do we know when to run back to our hiding place?
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!