Hiding Places
GCD Newsletter 8th November 2023
“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”
“Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.”
Psalm 119:114 & Jeremiah 23:24 ESV
My wife and I are currently staying in the home of her maternal grandmother. It’s an old, quirky house, made up of four small stacked storeys, each with only a room or two…or that’s what you might be tempted to think. Hidden from the naked eye, behind a wardrobe, there’s a small door, perhaps 3x3 feet, just small enough for someone to crawl through, but on the other side there’s space enough for nine young children to huddle away in—according to my wife’s childhood memories.
My wife and I didn’t meet until years later, but she has regaled me with stories about her time spent playing hide and seek, or just hiding away from the parents, who I’m sure were trying incredibly hard to find them…
When I think of hiding places, this is what comes to mind. I’ve not had much cause to hide as an adult, and those few weren’t nearly so delightful to think about.
Whatever our conception of “hiding” is, like every word and type we use to help us understand God, the real thing pales in comparison. The Lord is a Father, but it greater than all other Fathers; he is a Judge, but judges more fairly than any on earth, similarly, when we hide in him we are more hidden than we could ever be, and equally, were we to find a hiding place that ranked second, it could never hide us from him.
It’s an understatement to say that things seem dark at the moment, and we may be tempted to hide ourselves away as a result. I would argue, that is a good sentiment, if directed correctly. Let me encourage you that if that’s your response, give into it, but rather than hiding from God, which you could never do if you tried with all your might, hide in him, and with his people.
Grace and Peace,
Adsum Try Ravenhill is married to Anna and together they are passionate about seeing young men and women discipled within the context of the local church. You can find Adsum through his writing at The Raven’s Writing Desk and you can also find Adsum’s articles for GCD here.
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