The Hiding Place

"For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory." Psalm 32:7 NLT

One sheet and four kitchen chairs made a perfect hiding place.

Lovey was my maternal grandmother's half-sister. My memories of her are fading, but I do recall she played with me and my cousin. Making a tent was one of our favorite games to play. We accomplished our mission by taking a sheet and spreading it over four kitchen chairs. Seems like an easy enough exercise, but if the chairs weren't positioned correctly the entire thing would collapse.

After we erected our tent, my cousin and I entered and sat. Being young boys, we probably giggled and talked. We were in our hiding place . . . safe from the world. Though anyone could have easily discovered us by looking beneath the cover, we didn't see ourselves as exposed.

God was the psalmist's hiding place. Someone he could run to for protection when his enemies were fast upon his heels. Someone who comforted him when it appeared others had turned against him.

I've experienced other than honorable conditions in which I tried to hide from God. Mainly when I intentionally sinned or involved myself in other shameful behaviors. Rather than confessing, I tried to hide like Adam and Eve. Hiding didn't work for them-and it didn't for me either. God's convicting Spirit worried me until I made things right with God through confession.

God would rather me hide in Him for more honorable reasons. I can hide in Him for comfort. When life-or others-have frustrated, disappointed, betrayed, or angered me, I can hide in Him for comfort.

I can hide in God's love. It's unconditional. Nothing I do or say can make Him love me more or less. He loves me consistently-although this doesn't relieve me of living according to His standards.

I can hide in God's power. Nothing life throws at me is more powerful than He is. Lion, bears, nor an angry king were more powerful than the psalmist's God, and life's present enemies aren't more powerful than God's power to deliver me.

I can also hide in God's salvation-not from life's trials and tribulations, but from sin's power. Through the forgiveness offered by Christ, I can enjoy the assurance of being forgiven and accepted by God. No more dwelling under condemnation.

Let God teach you to hide in Him-not from Him or in anything else.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the comfort of hiding in You for salvation and from life's trials.

Martin Wiles Hodges, South Carolina, USA