Hide & Seek

I don't know about you, but there are times when if feels like there's a hide and seek relationship between me and God, when He secretes Himself away and no matter

what I do I can't find Him. So maybe I'm searching in all the wrong places. Job had a similar problem when he was going through his crisis, and so I feel like I'm in good company. In identifying with my situation, Job says "Look, I go forward, but He is not there,

And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; when He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him." (Job 23:8-9). The comfort that comes from hearing Him say "here I am son" cannot be measured, particularly when I'm in a dire situation. The Bible says He is a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1) but it does not say that He is a very visible one. Have you ever been in a challenging situation that seemed to go on forever and wondered where God was? Have you ever felt like your prayers were unheard and that God was keeping His distance? Did the heavens appear impenetrable when you cried out? Yet, He promises that "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," (Jeremiah 29:13). He says that His eyes search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9) and that His eyes are upon the righteous and His ears are open to hear their prayers (Psalm 34:15 and 1 Peter 3:12). So even when we can't sense His presence as long as we know that He both sees and hears us we should rest assured that He's got us covered, even if it feels like a game of Hide and Seek.