March 16, 2020
Hiding Place
Melissa Spoelstra
Today’s Truth
For You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you’ (Psalm 32:7-8).
Friend to Friend
I played hide and seek often with my three siblings as well as the various friends and cousins that migrated in and out of the house when I was a child. I can remember hiding under beds, the back of closets, and even squeezing into cupboards or toy boxes in an effort to be the last one found.
Some days between managing my home and running the race of church, kids' activities, and work deadlines, I want to find a place to run and hide. A place where there are no notifications and reminders sounding an alert on my phone. A place where no one is calling, "Mom, I need you." A place where the mental hamster wheel inside my head isn’t spinning with information. I don't think I'll fit into cupboards and toy bins anymore though.
Yet there is a hiding place for me. I can get away from it all and just be still. Be real. Be just me - a child of God. In Today’s Truth we read the words of David in Psalms 32. He likely wrote these verses during the time he was on the run from Saul who was hunting him in order to kill him. He was hiding in caves, but he knew the true source of his safety was His God. David referred to the Lord as his hiding place. Earlier in the Psalm he talked about the joy of those whose sins are forgiven. David said he was weak and miserable when he tried to hide his sins, but when he confessed to God, he felt free.
Just like God helped David when he was forced to run and hide, He longs to help us when we feel like we want to bury our heads in the sand. The Lord is our hiding place. He knows our sin, frustration, and fatigue from racing through life at a fast pace. He calls us to come to Him.
- Slow down.
- Sit in His presence.
- Confess our downfalls.
When we hide away with Him, He reminds us that He does these kinds of things in the lives of His followers:
- Protects us from trouble.
- Surrounds us with songs of victory.
- Guides us along the best pathway for our lives.
- Advises and watches over us.
Do you feel like running and hiding today? Do you need any guidance on the best pathway for your life? Today, take a few moments to run and hide. Get in God’s presence. Confess your sin and find freedom in forgiveness. Then hear God's voice from Psalm 32 singing songs of victory over your life.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, You are my hiding place. It amazes me that You are surrounding me with songs of victory. Lord, help me to run into Your arms instead of other distractions to try to numb the difficulties of life that make me want to hide. Remind me that You will guide me on the best pathway for my life. I can’t figure it out without Your help and guidance. Today I am hiding in You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Today, what trials are causing you to want to run and hide? How does it encourage you to know that God will guide you along the best pathway for your life and surround you with songs of victory when you make Him your hiding place?
Originally published Monday, 16 March 2020.
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