by Luke Kincaid
I remember the first time Cammie and I went into the shops wearing a mask once they were made mandatory. Things started out okay and it was your run-of-the-mill shopping trip but towards the end we started getting quite agitated and short with one another other. The moment we got into the car we threw our masks off nearly gasping for air as we hadn’t yet become accustomed to having our mouth and nose obstructed.
Fast forward many months and now I wouldn’t feel comfortable walking into the shops without a mask. A few times I have gotten near the door and gotten strange looks from others only to realize I wasn’t wearing one! While buying groceries the other day it dawned on me that I was actually using my mask to hide from the world around me in that moment. I hadn’t yet showered so my hair looked a little gross and I was wearing some old tracksuit pants that I wouldn’t normally wear out but I felt safe behind my mask and hoodie since most people wouldn’t be able to recognize me.
Upon realizing this my thoughts shifted to how we sometimes hide from God in a similar way. Maybe there is a situation in life that we are not 100% happy with or maybe there are areas of struggle or disobedience we are currently experiencing which lead us to try and hide from God or maybe even ignore that He is there. Fortunately for us God is always with us, even when we try to hide from Him:
1 Lord, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
you understand my thoughts from far away.
3 You observe my travels and my rest;
you are aware of all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue,
you know all about it, Lord.
5 You have encircled me;
you have placed your hand on me.
6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I fly on the wings of the dawn
and settle down on the western horizon,
10 even there your hand will lead me;
your right hand will hold on to me (Psalm 139:1-10)
If you are currently trying to hide from God, for whatever reason, dwell on the words of the Psalm above and allow them to minister to you. No one knows you better than God so take whatever you are feeling you need to hide from Him and ask Him to help.
Much love,
Luke
