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Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek

“I’m covering my eyes. I’ll count to one hundred. Now all of you go hide.” Most of us have played the children’s game of hide and seek. And maybe you even took time off today, to enjoy some playtime with your children or grandchildren? Although the game is fun for youngsters, as adults, we might revert to ‘hide and seek’ as a coping skill or a sneaky way to manipulate others. You know how it goes. You’ve suffered a devastating loss and when asked how you are doing, you smile and say, “Just fine.” Yet, God knows how we feel, what has happened and if we choose to invite Him into the battered and bruised places, we find a loving God who understands.

The revelation of His ways and will are part of the mystery of God. The Old and New Testaments describe the act of beginning to “seek God” as a “setting of the mind and heart” on God. It is the conscious fixing or focusing of our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection on God.

I Chronicles 22:19 says “Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.”

Colossians 3:1-2 reminds us “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

How do you seek the Lord? Seeking the Lord means seeking His presence.

How do you seek the Lord? 

“I love those who love me and those who seek me diligently, find me” (Proverbs 8:17 ESV). “Presence” is a common translation of the Hebrew word “face.” Literally, we are to seek His “face.” But this is the Hebraic way of having access to God. To be before His face is to be in His presence. But aren’t we His children always in His presence? Yes and no.

First, God is omnipotent (all powerful) and therefore always near (omnipresent) everything and everyone. He holds everything together. His power is ever-present in sustaining and governing all things.

And second, yes, He is always present (omnipresent) with the children of His covenant commitment – He is our promise-keeping God. God always stands by us and turns everything for our good. Matthew 28:20 says “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”

Why does it feel like God is playing hide and seek sometimes? It could be our circumstances have caused us to see God differently than He is. Or those we love have treated us in an ungodly manner. We must learn how to tell ourselves truth from God’s Word. Exodus 20:1-2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

Why does it seem like God’s presence is not with us? The Bible repeatedly tells us to “seek the Lord . . . seek his presence continually.” Why do we feel like God’s trusted presence is not our constant experience? There are seasons when we become neglectful of God. We forget Him and do not trust in Him. What happens is God’s hidden behind the curtain of our own fleshly desires. This is something we will always struggle with. That is why we are told to “seek his presence continually.” God calls us to enjoy him. When we understand more about how we were created to receive the love God has for us, it makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?

God promises we will find Him. He wants to be found. Let’s stand on the promise from James 4:8, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

This blog first appeared online at Lead Like Jesus

https://www.leadlikejesus.com/blog/hide-and-seek