Playing Hide and Seek with God

Have you ever felt like God is hard to find? Like He is playing a cosmic game of hide-and-seek, and you’re losing. You look behind every curtain and under every bed, at the back of every closet and behind every sofa, “God, where are You?”

Okay, so looking for God may not feel like an actual game of hide-and-seek around the house. Because looking for God is not fun and games. We cry out, “God, where are you?” in the doctor’s office, at the graveside of a loved one, in the unemployment line, or watching the evening news. We find ourselves in dark places, overwhelmed with the circumstances of life around us. We desperately need God, we try to find Him in our pain, but He feels far away.

God gave Jeremiah a promise to give to His people:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV).

God’s people were in exile, being punished for their disobedience and idolatry. But, God had not forgotten them. He had not abandoned them. God promised His people they would be restored, that they would live in relationship with Him once again.

Jeremiah 29:13 is a promise we can also cling to in times of difficulty. But there are many other verses that show us God’s heart to be close to us, His children. Here are just a couple:

Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:8).

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you (Psalm 9:10).

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20b).

So, if these scriptures are true and God promises to be with us always, why does it sometimes feel like He is far away? In my own journey of life and faith, I have discovered a few reasons why it feels like God is hiding from me sometimes.

I’m too busy and distracted to notice Him

There are times when God is close, but I am so caught up in my whirlwind of hustle, that I simply don’t notice Him. Our world is busy and noisy, and a million things are trying to get our attention every minute of every day. Our phones and computers constantly “ding” with notifications. The news cycle is constant, the children need feeding, the laundry needs folding, the email needs replying, and the kitchen needs cleaning.

Sometimes it feels like God is playing hide-and-seek because we smother Him with the clutter of our schedule: physical, mental and digital. We have no space in our lives for God. And we are disappointed when He doesn’t reveal himself in the ten minutes we set aside.

We can notice God’s presence more clearly when we turn off the noise, limit the distractions and clear space in our calendars.

God doesn’t show up the way I expect

Sometimes I can’t find God because He looks different from whom I’m expecting. Take the Wise Men for example. These guys are some of my spiritual heroes. Seriously.

These men come looking for a newborn King. And so, they went to the place where a king should be born, in a palace. But, Jesus wasn’t there. Jesus’ humble birth to poor parents in an out-of-the-way village didn’t make sense. But, rather than giving up and going home, they continued to follow the star and found the Messiah they were searching for.

Sometimes God looks different from what I expect. I look for the grand and glittery God, rather than the humble servant of all. I expect an earthquake and thunderstorm, rather than a still, small voice. I look for God to crash down the door of my hurt, and I don’t notice Him quietly holding my hand.

God wants me to grow up

Sometimes it feels like God is hiding because I don’t want to grow up.

The only way to get physically stronger is to push beyond our ability. The only way to run faster, is to run until our lungs are burning and our legs are shaking. In fact, the only way to learn or improve any skill is to push outside of our comfort zone, try, fail, hurt, and try again.

As parents we do this with our children, encouraging them to walk farther, climb higher and do things that are harder than what they have ever achieved before. It is part of the growing and maturing process.

And, as children of God, our growing and maturing process doesn’t end. Sometimes God feels distant to me, not because He is far away, but because He wants me to grow stronger in my faith, learning that He is dependable even when my spiritual lungs are burning and my legs are spent. God is a step ahead, encouraging me to grow.

As you navigate the complexity of life and faith, I pray you are able to enjoy the nearness of God. If He feels far away, turn off the noise of life to make room for Him. If God isn’t found where you expect, don’t give up looking. And if you’re pushed out of your comfort zone, strengthen your spiritual legs. God is not hiding from you. His promise is true: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.