Who of us has ever tried to hide from God?
If I’m honest, I may be guilty of sometimes acting a little like the prophet Jonah and tried to hide from God, especially in the hard seasons of my life. Yes, I wanted to hide from His presence. No, I didn’t hop on a ship or a plane and escape to the remotest corner of the earth. But I found ways to move away from my Father.
Many years ago, I attended eleven weddings in eighteen months when what I wanted was to be a bride like my friends . . . and God said, “Not yet.” I began to doubt I would ever find Mr. Right. And I bricked off my heart.
Later, Hubs and I walked through years of infertility, and I cried out to Him, “Why?” My pregnant friends’ complaints of, “I’m so fat!” were a slap to my heart. My follow-up thought was, “You have no idea how fortunate you are to be fat for that reason.”
And I stopped having quiet times for a season.
God’s plans hurt—left me disappointed—when He didn’t seem to hear my heart or care about my pain.
When God has encouraged me to love hard-to-love people in my life—those who make me feel small—it seems easier to shut myself away behind protective walls than to be vulnerable to being hurt . . . again.
I suspect we each have unique ways to hide from God.
Why we hide from God
Sometimes, we’re uncomfortable with where He places us . . . in a difficult work situation, with rebellious, special-needs or demanding children, in a place where our hearts yearn for something God hasn’t chosen to give us.
Perspective: What Happens When We No Longer Hide from God—it’s in the difficult places where we get to know God’s presence. In the midst of the pain. . In the center of not understanding the why’s. #tellhisstory #hidefromgod… Click To TweetYet it’s in the difficult places where we get to know God’s presence. In the midst of the pain. In the middle of the discomfort. In the center of not understanding the why’s.
When we conceal ourselves behind walls or turn our backs on the Lord, we hide from God’s presence.
Perspective on why we should stop hiding
God hasn’t asked most of us to proclaim a message of His love to our enemies. But He does want us to trust Him—to stay close—when He allows painful circumstances into our lives. When He asks hard things of us.
We don’t see the end chapters of our life stories. Sometimes, we’re stuck in the middle of the muck. We always have a choice . . . will we lean into His nearness or will we strike out on our own?
Our pastor once said, “Dwell where God has you.” It’s in the middle of the choosing to stay where God has us—choosing to seek Him—that we find His presence. It’s when we make the decision we will stay that we discover His strength.
Perspective: What Happens When We No Longer Hide From God?—It’s in the middle of the choosing to stay where God has us—choosing to seek Him—that we find His presence #tellhisstory #hidefromgod #godspresence Click To TweetWhen we ask for God’s perspective
I don’t think Jonah trusted the Lord. He was God’s prophet, but he had definite prejudices against the Ninevites. The Ninevites discovering God’s goodness was not on his agenda. Jonah didn’t trust that God had a plan for them and for him.
Sometimes, we must ask God to give us His perspective, to humble ourselves before Him, and yield our desires to His plans. Even when we know this will bring pain.
But, when we trust God more than we crave our desires, there’s peace to be found.
Conclusion
God gave me a perfect-for-me, amazing husband . . . after I came to the place of understanding that my visions of “good enough” were far inferior to His best gift.
He walked with us through the infertility years and taught us so much about His nature, His character, and His love for us. In time, He allowed us to adopt our two sons. If I had held onto my hurt and stayed walled off from my Father, I may have missed the gift of mothering our boy-men.
When I find it hard to love, God helps me to see those people through His eyes. This enables me to love even after the harsh words are spoken.
Sometimes, staying in God’s presence feels like the harder thing because it requires us to persist in what can be stretching, painful places. But, it’s when we remain there that we find the hope of God’s presence to strengthen us, to enable us to walk through those hard places with the Lord.
The next time I am tempted to wall off my heart, I’m going to remember Jonah’s example and not run.
What about you? When have you tried to hide from God? What helps you to choose to stay near God in hard situations?
Next week we’ll be meeting at Lisa Jordan’s place!
Come share your story at the Tell His Story linkup. Connect and be encouraged by like-minded friends! #tellhisstory #linkup Click To TweetMost weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Well written. And so open. God used various painful circumstances to connect me more to him. When everything falls away, He remains. That’s grace.
Aritha, thank you so much for stopping by. God does have a way of using the pain in our lives to draw us closer to Him. I’m so grateful He promises to never leave or forsake us.
So important not to run from God when we’re hurting or have sinned. He is our high tower. Our help and our shield!
Yes, Kathy. We need to run TO Him in the difficult seasons, not away. Thanks for your wisdom!
Staying in God’s presence during those waiting periods is so difficult. But God often teaches me the most during the droughts. Thanks for sharing your experiences and life lessons, Jeanne. May we all take them to heart.
Yes, Lisa. The waiting periods can be difficult, but it’s often in those hard seasons when I learn the most too. Thanks for your encouragement, friend.
There is peace in the chaos, the disappointment, the grief, when we trust God. I have experienced that peace. It does as the bible says–His peace transcends understanding. When I feel my anxious heart, I know I have gone into my own ego and turned away from God. Sometimes I physically turn my head to remember to turn back to Him! I sometimes turn away for long periods of time, and grateful for His everyday mercy.
I love what you said, Lynn, about how when your heart feels anxious, it’s because you’ve gone into your own ego and turned away from God. I’m walking through something now where I must continually turn my heart back toward God. It’s a constant discipline. I love the physical action you use to remind you to turn your heart toward Him. I’m also thankful for His everyday mercy.
I can’t remember a time I have ‘hidden’ from God per se Jeanne but I can remember a time when I wasn’t as ‘trusting’ as I should have been & that was not a nice place to be in!
I’m really glad He guided me back into that place of trust in Him. ☺️
Blessings, Jennifer
Jennifer, I so appreciate your honesty. I’ve definitely had seasons where I didn’t want to trust God. I guess we each must come to the place where we choose to trust Him, even when we don’t understand the why’s behind the pain, don’t we?
Absolutely Jeanne! It’s a unique journey for each of us to come to that place… As the scriptures of Habakkuk 3: 17-19 & 2 Corinthians 12:9 tell us.
In my words;
Though nothing is seen to be happening, I will rejoice in the God of my Salvation for He is my Strength & ‘His grace is sufficient for me’ as He has made me to express confidence & to walk in triumphant security!
Thank you for sharing your heart, Jeanne. I’m sending you a big hug! I’m a big fall forward on my face person in front of Him saying, “I can’t move forward unless You help me!”
Lisa, thanks for that big hug. I’ve definitely fallen face forward, and I’m trying to make changes so I don’t do that again. ouch! I love that prayer, “I can’t move forward unless You help me!”
“It’s when we make the decision we will stay that we discover His strength.” This spoke to me. When I quit trying to fix things myself, I make room for God to show up.
Jerralea, I love when God gives us words that speak to others . . . and remind us of truths (as I’m living out in this moment). I completely agree with the need to make room for God to show up rather than try to fix things myself. But, man, it’s hard sometimes . . . in the beginning stages of a trial. 😉
I love the refreshing Hawaii photos you’ve been sharing, Jeanne! Thank you for sharing what God taught you and is teaching you in the midst of the hard and painful. This is so true – “Sometimes, we must ask God to give us His perspective, to humble ourselves before Him, and yield our desires to His plans. Even when we know this will bring pain.” Thank you for your understanding and encouragement. Love and blessings to you!
Trudy, you are such an encourager. I continue to learn the necessity of humility and being yielded to God’s plans for our lives. IMm thankful He is always unfailingly faithful. Sending you love and blessings back, sweet friend!
Wow! Does this ever resonate with my heart. I tried to hide from God when I was facing infertility many moons ago.
Visiting today from IMM #23
Paula, the walk through the valley of infertility is sometimes painful. I’m so thankful God meets us in those dark places and is all we need.
Amen to that my friend.
Jeanne, thanks for sharing your journey. I think our faith has to be tested to grow strong.
Though it’s painful, you are right. When our faith is tested and we make those choices to trust God, our faith strengthens.
I agree, it can be hard to keep trusting God when we can’t understand why things are the way they are. The time that stands out to me is about eight years ago when a friend was struggling with severe mental health issues and it felt like God wasn’t doing anything. I felt like I had to sort it all out myself and definitely pulled back from God for a bit. I think, as you say, we have to reach the point of trusting God and his goodness and putting our hope in that rather than in our desired outcome. Not easy when we don’t understand, but it definitely brings more peace!
Lesley, trusting God is often a moment-by-moment choosing/decision, particularly when we are in those hard, painful seasons.
Beautiful post, Jeanne. Leaning into His presence in the middle of the muck.
Blessings,
Tammy
Tammy, thank you so much for stopping by. Yes, leaning into God’s presence in the middle of the muck is the best way to not get stuck.
Thanks for your transparency friend. You lay it bare in relatable fashion. I know many will be encouraged to dwell where they are and to press in to the Lord. I know I am. Looking to share with others.
Mickey, thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I’m so thankful for you!
Jeanne,such tender truths here. I know I have hidden from God when I felt “he” had let “me” down-perhaps it wasn’t hiding so much as withdrawing fellowship in a way. Why continue to ask, when He isn’t listening or said “no”. As if the only reason to remain close to God is for what He gives.
But as you mention, it’s in the hard places and disappointments where we know God as Comforter, Friend, and intimate Lover of Our Souls. And best of all, we actually receive much more than we asked for in the first place!
Yes, Donna. God often gives us more than we ask for. Sometimes the hardest part is the first step of leaning into Him, trusting Him.
I am thankful that we can’t hide from the Lord. He is with us always and that brings me comfort.
Yes and amen, Melissa! I’m glad He always sees us and comforts when we turn to Him.
Oh my, Jeanne … 11 weddings in 18 months??? That is beyond a lot, my friend. This truth definitely helps me when I’m feeling distant from God: “Sometimes, we must ask God to give us His perspective, to humble ourselves before Him, and yield our desires to His plans. Even when we know this will bring pain.” I’m working on a blog post about staying close to God, and your words this morning are encouraging me as I work through my thoughts about that.
Yes, Lois, asking for God to give us His perspective is helpful. I’m doing it right now, actually. I’m looking forward to reading that blog post.
It’s so true, it’s often in the hard places where our faith is stretched and strengthened–though at the time it doesn’t seem like anything good is happening. As we come to know Him better and better, we learn to trust our good Father in rough circumstances.
Yes, Barb. It is in those hard places where our faith is stretched and strengthened. Thank goodness our Father is trustworthy all the time.
I believe it is a supernatural gift from.God to be able to look squarely at our sadness (or the sadness of others) and to lament in the presence of God, trusting that he has a reason for the sorrow. Sometimes he even lets us see the big picture! So glad he has done that for you!
I think you’re right, Michele. It is uncomfortable to lament and express our sadness in God’s presence. Yet, how He is able to move when we do. Trusting God has a reason for our sorrow does help when we must walk through it.
Hiding from God ain’t my game,
not if I live true,
and it’s really just the same
that I can’t hide from you
in these days I’m torn apart,
and put back together wrong.
They didn’t reinstall my heart
so how on earth can I be strong
when the strength I leaned upon
to help me move ahead
suddenly has up and gone,
so suddenly is dead?
And so I find me on my knees,
weeping, “Dear God, help me, please!”
Andrew, this poem . . . it speaks to my heart. We all have points in our lives where we’re on our knees praying God will help us please. I’m praying for you, my friend.