Hide and seek, Google tells me, is a game that is played worldwide, and almost since the beginning of time. We play it first with babies and call it Peek-a-Boo, and we do it because we love to hear their giggles. It's a game that children can play successfully from about 3 years old and it seems to stay alive in every generation. There's something about the thrill and fun of hiding, and being clever enough not to be found....or hit, if you are paint-balling!
Years ago at a wedding I remember sitting by a pastor's wife who was probably as old as I am now and she told me that just that week, she had hidden in the wardrobe and jumped out at her husband when he came looking for her......just for fun. It's good to stay child-like in some things!
However, some of us take this 'game' into adulthood but mostly not in a good way. We use the hiding part but we really don't want to be found.....for many and varied reasons. If you don't wish to be challenged, you'd better stop reading right now!
Why do we hide?
This can be for many reasons, which really have the same foundation. Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden of Eden after they had sinned. (Genesis 3:8) They were ashamed because they were naked. It hadn't been an issue before they sinned because they were in innocence. They hid because they feared God finding out what they had done....as if He didn't already know!
We, too, can hide out of shame at something we have done, and also for the fear of being found out. But there is always forgiveness with our Father in Heaven. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) It's interesting that the verse before that says, "If we say we have no sin we are only fooling ourselves...." we are certainly not fooling God.
We can hide from challenge for fear of 'not being up to it', and from fear of failure. Remember Saul who had been told he was to be king? When the prophet Samuel came to honour him he was found hiding among the equipment (1 Samuel 10:22). Even though he stood head and shoulders above the rest, he felt he was not up to the task because he was from the smallest tribe (1 Samuel 9:21). He forgot that it was God's task to equip him for the work He had assigned to him. Much later Samuel had to correct Saul because he had become proud and disobedient to God. He reminded Saul that it was when he was little in his own sight that God had made him leader. (1 Samuel 15:17).
We can hide from the fear of being known for who we really are and, of being rejected. Recently I was with other Christian friends and we were recounting some of our teenage misdemeanours concerning smoking. (I must add here that I am so very grateful to God for challenging me to give up cigarettes early in my Christian life.) We were laughing and my friend, Alice, who hasn't known me for very long, said, "Jackie, I don't know who you are!" She said it with a smile and I agreed with her. "No, Alice, you do not!" But, I am not afraid of her knowing me because I know she is a truly loving woman and will accept me, faults and all. I hope that if I need correction, she will correct me too, and that I will be willing to receive correction, by God's grace. You see there is no fear in love (1 John 4:18)
How do we hide?
There are many ways a child can find to hide; from just behind their own hands if they are very little, to behind the couch or under a bed as they are bigger, or maybe in the empty rubbish bin or some other dark and scary place if they are very brave. We, too, find ways to 'hide'.
We steer clear of friends who might challenge or disagree with us, keep busy with work or even with mundane tasks rather than spending some serious time with God. We might stop attending church regularly, or hide ourselves in novels, movies or games that 'take our mind off' our guilt, or shame, fear, or inadequacy. However, there is no lasting peace in any of that. We have to make a decision.
This is a day to realise that not one of us can 'hide' from God. (Psalm 139:7). He sees us and loves us too much to leave us in our misery. BUT we have to come out of hiding and come before Him who is the Prince of Peace, the King of Love, the Great Shepherd and lover of our souls. He is Jesus Christ, our Saviour. God is calling us out of hiding. Will you come out and allow yourself to be seen?
Prayer: Father God, help me to see if there is any way that I am hiding, from you or from others. Help me to come into the light of your presence and love, throwing off the fear, shame, inadequacy or anything else that is stopping me from finding real joy in your presence. Help me to press in to know you intimately and be known by You. In Jesus' name. Amen
