A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of sharing an interview with you from a new author and friend Adrienne Terrebonne. If you missed the Front Porch Friday interview please head on over here and read it as well. Today we have the honor of hearing a little more about Adrienne’s heart. So it is with great excitement that I turn over the mic to her!
This weekend, the little kids were having some quiet time. Three-year old Vivienne was actually napping and five-year old Jonah was supposed to be playing quietly in his room. At the end of his allotted time, I went to Jonah’s room to tell him he could come out, but when I walked in, his room was empty. I couldn’t find him anywhere. I looked all over the house, called his name several times, and finally I screamed, “Jonah, you’re scaring mommy! Come out now!”
Suddenly he appeared, wearing a huge grin on his face. The little stinker had been hiding in his older sister’s closet. I knew he couldn’t have gone far and that he hadn’t walked outside, but still. I was sort of on the verge of hysteria. He was so proud of himself, though, as he said, “Mom, I was hiding from you. I’m a great hider!”
Kids love to play hide and seek. It’s a natural process in their development and it is quite entertaining to watch them figure out how to play. Right now, Vivienne thinks that if her eyes are closed, no one is able to see her. And for a long time, Jonah couldn’t remain quiet long enough for someone to find him. (That phase is obviously over…) Their little brains fascinate me.
As I watch my children play these games, I think about my own ability to hide. As I’ve grown and matured, I’ve gotten much better at hiding some of the things I don’t like about myself. Maybe you feel the same way.
Maybe you strive to hide your vulnerability from others.
Maybe you, like me, are an emotional person and you desire to conceal some of those emotions.
Maybe you try to suppress your anger or your hurts. Your fears or disappointments.
Maybe you want to hide part of your personality from others so that they might like you better.
Maybe you want to bury a portion of your past that you aren’t proud of.
Or maybe you even want to hide from God. (I’ve tried that, by the way. It doesn’t actually work.)
In the twelfth chapter of Luke, We find Jesus speaking to a large crowd about this very subject of hiding. Listen to His words in verses 1-3:
Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
So, yeah. Jesus tells it like it is. There is nothing hidden that will not be made known. Yikes.
Perhaps you’ve been hurt by people in the church who are hiding behind their religion. Maybe you have even been one of those people: current-day Pharisees who are legalistic rule-followers, afraid to love others. Afraid to let down their guard and be real and honest.
In Jeremiah 23:24, God says, “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” The Lord sees each of us. He knows our hearts.
We cannot hide from Him. And I don’t want to.
In Psalm 32:7, David writes, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
My prayer for each of us is this: As we grow and mature in our faith, let us learn to live in freedom. Let us no longer hide from others or attempt to hide from God. Instead, let’s make Him our hiding place because He can protect us from heartache, from disappointments. He can deliver us from the enemy.
When we put our trust in the Lord, He gives us strength and wisdom. He becomes our sanctuary in times of tumultuous change.
So, no more hide and seek, my friends. Stop holding back. Run to the One who wants to be your hiding place. Take refuge in Him.
You can visit Adrienne via:
Blessed Beyond Exhaustion blog
Facebook Blessed Beyond Exhaustion
Visit Website
Amen! Thank you and have a blessed week!
Thank you Carolina! Praying you have a wonderful week as well!