No more old fashion 'hide and seek'

When my husband Gary plays "hide and seek" with our kids it’s more like "stand-out and be found". He usually hides in the most obvious places and the kids squeal every time they ‘find’ him. It’s precious. And hysterical. My kids are 8 and 6--he could actually hide himself from them and they still could probably find him. 

But I realized he is teaching them an AMAZING life lesson without using any words, and I have found the best life lessons are usually the wordless ones. When my kids seek for him, they find him. Every time, without fail. And they usually run up and jump in to his arms. I am not sure if Gary actually planned this life lesson or if he just really enjoys the jumping hug. But he is teaching our kids that when they “seek” God, they will find Him. Our God is an even worse hider than Gary. He stands out with His arms waving for us to seek and find Him.  

Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” 

I once heard someone say "God can’t heal our broken hearts until we give Him all the pieces.” For a long time, when I sought God I felt like there was silence on the other end. Then I realized it was because I wasn’t bringing my whole heart to Him. And as I began to give him all the broken pieces of my heart; my pain, my loss, my disappointments, my regrets, my shame... then I found Him. I found His presence and His peace in a way that surpasses my simple human understanding.

Just as my kids expect to find their Daddy, and squeal with delight when they do, we should approach God with the same enthusiasm and expectation. 

Psalm 21:6-7 “Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the most High he will not be shaken.”

Joy comes when we seek Him, stop hiding and stand in His presence with all our brokenness and allow Him to love us with His unfailing love. 

I am so thankful that God is all about being found, not about hiding. At times I hide the most painful pieces of my heart from Him. At times I hide them from myself as well.  But He never hides from me. Shame sends our hearts in to hiding.  But He says "it's ok, you are safe, come on out, I want to love all of you..."  I am thankful that when I seek Him, He is always found. Because He was seeking us first. He is always seeking after us. 

Ezekiel 34:11 says “For this is what he Sovereign Lord says: I myself search for my sheep and look after them.” 

Lets seek after Him today with all the pieces of our heart.

Less hiding, more seeking. 

Daily Grace to you,