My Hiding Place

Psalm 32:7   You are my hiding place, you keep me from trouble, you always fill my heart with songs of deliverance.  

As a little girl, sitting in a pew at Liberty Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio, I would often be placed between my folks.  My young mind and heart were not much interested in the sermon, so I would doodle on paper my mom would provide.  

Oftimes, my dad would take off his suit coat for me and let me put it on my shoulders.  I loved this because it smelled of him, Aramis cologne, mmm, such a good smell.  But, even more, what I enjoyed and gave me the secret thrill inside was leaning forward, covering my head with the jacket, and hiding in the 'dark' as I doodled.  My young mind believed I was well hidden and no one could see me. Silly, I know, but the most fun of feelings.

Protected. Safe. Hidden.  Nothing could 'get' me.

These were my feelings then.

I was sure of each of them.  

Now, fifty years later, I am thinking again of the delight at being hidden and secure.But my dad's suit coat is no where nearby.  

My hiding place is the Lord.

If a tornado is coming, you take shelter.  When a robber breaks into your home as you sleep, you awaken to the noise and if no weapon of protection is available, you hide, sneak your family to closets, attic stairways, anywhere secret and hidden.  When a horrendous school shooting takes place, teachers and students hide under desks, behind shelves or doors. Hiding from the sight of danger makes us feel secure and protected. 

The world is full of pain and suffering, hurt and harassment, fearful situations, and mean people.  Often, there is no closet to hide in from such things, no matter the form they take.

But.  

There is the heavenly Father and his gift of the spirit to us.

The psalmist cries out, "YOU are my hiding place, you fill me with songs of deliverance."

I can trust in Him.

As I look at my Bible lately, I am struck by words like safety, shelter, deliverance, hiding place, refuge, covering, rescue, protective shield, dwelling place, and no harm coming to me.  Wow.  These notions overwhelm my soul as I consider God's Word, his constant care of me, his anointed child. 

When anxiety comes, I can thank the Father in heaven that He sees me, and is hiding me in the shelter of his wings, as a bird protects its offspring.  

Psalm 91 tells me that the Lord's thoughts towards me are this:  

Because he has his heart set on me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name. When he calls out to me, I will answer him.  I will be with him in trouble.  I will rescue him and give him honor.  I will satisfy him with a long life and show him my salvation. 

Deliver.  Rescue.  Protect.  Satisfaction.

Also

The Lord will cover you with his pinions, you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.  You will not fear the terror of the night or the arrow that flies by day.

Again, refuge, protective shield, no fear, covered.

The Lord Jesus is my daddy's suit coat.  That place I feel hidden, unseen by evil or fear, no one can get to me.  Even as the world continues on in its ways of darkness, and war rages in the spiritual realms where I don't see it, but I experience its affects.  I am safe. Shielded.  Hidden. Rescued.  Protected. Delivered.

When you are hurting, broken deep within, lonely, attacked by others, remember that the Lord is your hiding place.  He will fill you with his songs of deliverance as you thank him for caring for you, knowing your anxiety, and going before you in those circumstances.  Feel the protection and refuge like I did as a girl when cloaked in darkness and safety under the sweet scent of my father's presence near me.  His covering offered me as I sat in church.  The Father's covering offered you merely because you are his precious child and He loves you intensely.

Thank you, heavenly Father, for Jesus, for your spirit, for being my deliverance always, my shelter and rescue.  You fill my heart.  There is nothing but praise for you.  You are so worthy.  I love you, Lord.  Amen.

Let your heart be filled with his songs of deliverance today.  Always.

Blessings to you, precious friends.

Love, Gayle