God Does Not Hide

Daily Gratitude Year 7 - Day 51: Today, I am grateful God doesn't hide.

God doesn't hide. We might attempt to hide from him, like Adam and Eve did in the garden as a result of pride, disobedience, sin and shame. but God does not hide. 

Now, he might not always reveal himself in expected places. Remember Elijah? 

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12

 Yes, He was in the gentle whisper. He is always with us. He promised. The Holy Spirit keeps that promise. Still, we might have to be patient because he does not operate by our clock. The wait can seem frustrating, but His way is always better. When impatience or pride lead to disobedience, things get messy. 

I love to imagine Elijah on the mountain hiding. He was over the job title of prophet and Queen Jezebel's mission to kill him! Elijah loved his Lord and wanted to be with him. God was always with him. Angels took care of him. He was frustrated and tired. He found himself in a waiting place. An intimacy came from Elijah learning to wait. He settled for nothing less than the best when he learned to wait on the Lord. God doesn't hide, but he takes His own sweet time. He arrived not in the windstorm or earthquake... but in the still, soft voice. 

God and Elijah worked things out. Elisha would replace Elijah. Elijah continued to trust and walk in obedience. He had the most amazing reward. He did not die.  

"As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven." -2 Kings 2:11

Not a bad end of the day or end of a career for Elijah! Elisha was able to watch the event unfold and surely that memory gave him strength and courage on the hard days of leading the people of Israel after Elijah was taken to heaven. 

“God rewards those who seek Him. Not those who seek doctrine of religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself. And what is the reward? What awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of the heart of Jesus.” - Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus

We can seek His face like Elijah. We can learn to wait out the windstorm and the earthquakes for the whispers of God. We can learn to settle for nothing short of the heart of Jesus. Not as defined by creeds and doctrines, but by knowing Him and His Word. He doesn't hide, but he isn't always where we expect to find Him. 

Where are the unexpected placed you have found yourself deeply aware of the very, real presence of God? A labor and delivery room. A dying loved one's bedside. A landscape covered with sparkling snow. At sunrise in a fishing boat. In a flower garden. In a puppy's kiss. In a worship service when "10,000 Reasons" is sung in the fellowship of friends. 

Today, I am grateful God doesn't hide.