Apples of Gold

For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. The LORD says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:7-8

Growing up I sometimes enjoyed a good game of hide and seek. On rare occasions I would find the perfect spot to hide and try to remain as still and silent as possible as the seekers repeatedly passed my refuge without noticing my presence. Quite a few years later I remember one evening, after a particularly tumultuous and trying day of homeschooling and parenting three very young and unusually rambunctious girls, I found myself literally hiding, in a large box, in my bedroom closet with the door shut. My kids and even my husband were on the hunt but I needed a minute. The constant demands on my time and energy had left me depleted and overwhelmed. It sounds silly now as I look back on it but at the time the need to escape, just long enough to catch my breath, was very real.

Hectic schedules, the demands of family, friends, work and life in general can leave us feeling empty and exhausted. At times the to-do list seems to multiply faster than the national debt. Wiping down the kitchen sink after washing the last dish somehow sets off a signal to everyone in the house to bring the stockpile of dirty dishes they have been collecting in a corner somewhere. 

These routine tasks combined with physical and emotional struggles we face-both our own; and those we encounter with those we care for, can leave us feeling disheveled and worn out. These are times that we find ourselves in need of a spiritual hiding place. Like the small child asking to climb into bed with their parents after having a nightmare, we long to draw close to our Father and experience that peace that emanates from being under his care.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:1-4

Crawling up beside the Lord and taking refuge under his feathers sounds like an almost irresistible retreat from the constant challenges of life. 2024 has held some serious challenges for all of us. Many have suffered deep loss, others have faced physical struggles, financial obstacles and disappointment. 

Tough times often compel us to find that place of safety in the presence of our Lord.  It is only when we are nestled in the shelter of the Lord that we can be refreshed and get a renewed perspective. Our difficulties can block our ability to see the good things in our lives; like a full-on solar eclipse we see nothing but darkness. 

When you are alone in the dark, the shadows of everyday items can appear threatening and our imaginations can turn a coatrack into an attacker lurking menacingly in the corner. Similarly, the shadows cast by our struggles make them appear more intimidating when they are cloaked in darkness. The whispered reassurance is found when we pause and hide in the presence of the Lord, allowing his light to dispel the doubts and fears. 

As we prepare to close the curtain on 2024 and step into a new year may we allow God to refresh our perspective and restore our souls. As we wait, with our eyes lifted, listening for the trumpet that will signal the Rapture of the saints of God, the reality of the conditions around us will continue to press heavily upon us. We must keep our eyes on the Lord and our footing solidly grounded in biblical teaching. If we focus on eternal things rather than our issues we will find ourselves invigorated and recharged. 

When our struggles threaten to overwhelm and dishearten us there is only one place to run, straight into the arms of God.

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who rest in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31