During my childhood, one of my most memorable times was during the long, hot days of summer. Each evening, the neighborhood kids and I returned to the outdoors after dinner for one last game. At dusk, we would meet at the dead-end street to play “Hide and Seek.”
This was a very serious game. The goal was to hide from your seeker until it was safe to run for home base without being seen and tagged out. That is why we played under the cover of twilight. The darkness of night kept you concealed as you dashed from object to object until finally you made it to home base unseen.
Those were the good ole days when I was young enough to still enjoy the game, but old enough to play with the cleverness that it took to keep from being found.
As I recall, it was my dad who first introduced me to the game of “Hide and Seek.” Although, my father and I played the game differently than the neighborhood kids did.
When dad would hide, he would often leave clues on purpose so I could find him. Sometimes, I would spy his wiggling toes sticking out from under the living room curtains. Others times, I noticed a lampshade sitting atop a very large stand in the shape of his silhouette, or I would hear noises coming from behind the couch. For dad and I the game was not about staying hid. It was about a developing a trusting relationship.
Our reunion brought joy, laughter, and sometimes tickling. Mostly, it taught me that whenever I needed my Dad, he could always be found.
I think the same is true with our heavenly Father. He is not playing a game with us that on chance we may find Him. No! God wants to be found, and He is leaving clues about His presence everywhere. God has promised us if we will seek Him, we shall find Him. “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find {Him} if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29).
What will we find when we seek God? We will find life, strength, comfort, and guidance. We will discover God’s will, His plans, and His blessings.
How do we seek Him? God’s Word tells us to seek Him while He can be found. We should seek God immediately, with diligence, through prayer, in His Word, and with our whole hearts.
As we do, God will be found between the pages of His word, in new found strength as we face adversity, and in the comfort of His presence as we communicate with Him in prayer.
God doesn’t play hide and seek with us. He longs to be found by those who earnestly want to know Him. The Lord is ready and waiting to revel Himself to you in such wonderful ways that it will leave you longing for more. It’s an adventure you don’t want to miss. Ready, set, seek!
Micca